Most Fun Scientific Names

There's no way to beat some of the animals already listed, but I think Pudu puda deserves a mention, as well as Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax - especially since their common name in Dutch is simply "kwak".

 

Came along a scientific name which has a complete differtent meaning in Dutch : the spider-genus Kut.... :

Kut gen. nov., a new troglomorphic spider genus from Turkey (Araneae, Dysderidae)

 

Just translated that on Google

 

TBF these spiders could be named after the town of Kut, which incidentally is the site of one of the most famous battles of WW1

 

In the discription the real meaning of the new scientific name is explained :

" “Kut” is a Turkish word traceable to the old Turkic language with multiple meanings, such as “fortune (good or bad)”, “lifelong energy” or “vigour”, and more, depending on a dialect or a historical period. Gender: masculine. "

 

Tiliqua scincoides scincoides is probably my favorite.

 

My favourite is definitely the Madagascan Giant Hognose Snake

Leioheterodon madagascariensis

It’s just super fun to say.

 

Has anyone mentioned the Great evening bat Ia io?

 

It's off to work we go

 

Again a number of species recieved funny names :

Deadpool fly among new species named by CSIRO - CSIRO

 

Wow ! I never knew about either this species (poor beetle being named after such a ******* ) or this conservation situation, totally bizarre!

I suppose that it shouldn't really come as a suprise though as there are so many insane human motives and behaviours that are driving species extinctions.

 

"Naming the Shrew" is a good book dedicated to the subject. Informative and joyful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Naming-Shrew-Curious-History-Latin/dp/1408865556

 

Looks interesting, have added it to my "to read" list.

 

Was gonna say the Boops, Boops boops, but it's already been mentioned. There is Sprattus sprattus, which is, surprise surprise, the Sprat.

 

Neal Evenhuis named a mythicomyiid fly 'Pieza' in 2002. Species include Pieza pi, Pieza rhea, and Pieza kake.

Dean Martin sang a love song about a mythicomyiid fly:
that's amore youtube - Bing video

 

Say Boops upside your head say Boops upside your head

 

BUBO BUBO

 

I always liked Orcinus Orca, maybe because it tells you what the species is, maybe because of how fun it is to say, either way, I like it.

 

Upupa epops! Mind you, what did Turdus obscurus do to deserve it’s name? And Bugeranas? And, just to let the plant kingdom get a look in, Silybum!

 

I don't understand your message. Turdus obscurus is similar to Turdus migratorius but have a more dusky plumage. What is "Bugeranas"???? What happens with Silybum, proper name of a thistle given by Plinius the Elder? At least Upupa epops is onomatopeyic, as is the common name of this bird in most languages, so it can be somewhat funny.