# Your favorite scientific names of plants/animals **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001 "2014-08-20T14:59:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/61 "2014-08-22T03:00:31Z")
I’m amazed that this thread got to Page 2 without anyone mentioning [_Hallucigenia_.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucigenia) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/62 "2014-08-22T04:29:58Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > I’m amazed that this thread got to Page 2 without anyone mentioning [_Hallucigenia_.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucigenia) Hallucigenia may be the best of them, but some of the other Burgess Shale critters have names just as weird as the animals themselves. [_Wiwaxia_](http://paleobiology.si.edu/burgess/wiwaxia.html) [_Amiskwia_](http://paleobiology.si.edu/burgess/amiskwia.html) [_Aysheaia_](http://paleobiology.si.edu/burgess/aysheaia.html) [_Opabinia_](http://paleobiology.si.edu/burgess/opabinia.html) [_Waptia_](http://paleobiology.si.edu/burgess/waptia.html) [_Pikaia_](http://paleobiology.si.edu/burgess/pikaia.html) [_Ottoia_](http://paleobiology.si.edu/burgess/ottoia.html) ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/63 "2014-08-22T04:43:11Z")
First time I ever came upon the official _platycerium superbum_ (staghorn fern), I read it as super-bum rather than superb-um. Gave me then and still gives the giggles. Yes, I am a simpleton, why do you ask? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/64 "2014-08-22T05:22:36Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I’ll raise you one _[Rattus rattus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_rat)_. The Australian Canefield Rat is _ **Rattus Sordidus** _. It’s a dirty rat… ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/65 "2014-08-22T05:23:47Z")
[This list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wile_E._Coyote_and_The_Road_Runner) is useful and demonstrates re-categorizing phenomena (lumping and splitting?). Table is in section 2. Hint: Ultra-sonicus ad infinitum and Nemesis ridiculii. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/66 "2014-08-22T06:54:37Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And yet all _three_ of you left off badger, badger, badger. 😃 > [@Malacandra](#): > > You know that’s just going to mushroom. > > In similar but not quite the same vein is _[Puffinus puffinus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_shearwater)_, which is of course not a puffin (in fact, [puffins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_puffin) are not members of the genus _puffinus_ at all). I’ve always liked the nuttiness of this situation; and the scientific name of the endearingly human-looking Atlantic puffin, _Fratercula arctica_ (“Arctic little brother”). I seem to recall reading (can give no cite, unfortunately), that in the past, at least according to some biologists, the Manx shearwater went for the “triple event” – being called _Puffinus puffinus puffinus_. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/67 "2014-08-22T07:04:50Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > However, A.muscaria, Fly Agaric, which is the one with the white-flecked, brilliant red cap, is not edible, as a food. It is a hallucinogen which almost always is accompanied by violent nausea. > > There are some very delicious Amanita species (A.calyptroderma, A.ceasaria), and some that are edible but not anything special. Know your fungi. > > Also, not sure if prudery and teaching biology commonly go together. I certainly have never met a biologist who titters and blushes about latin nomenclature. Leering, perhaps. A muscaria is edible if cooked unto death. Promise. And while not every biology teacher is a prude, nor did I say that all of them were, I had two who had serious problems pronouncing phaloides without looking about to faint. Of course that only led to us students finding the name even more fun. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/68 "2014-08-22T10:55:38Z")
[Quetzalcoatlus northropi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetzalcoatlus) - a pterosaur the size of a school bus. :eek: I have a tie with a Q. northropi stitched into the pattern, which I bought at the Smithsonian during my first trip to DC. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/69 "2014-08-22T23:11:09Z")
_Cryptoprocta ferox_, the fossa of Madagascar. It’s anus is difficult to see, it’s kind of, uh, pouchy back there. Hidden anus, fierce. Sure, good description. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/70 "2014-08-22T23:15:43Z")
Selachimorpha, for shark. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/71 "2014-08-23T10:26:48Z")
Two from the plant kingdom which I’ve always liked: _Haplopappus coronopifolius_, a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family; and _Echinopsis tubiflora_, a kind of cactus. ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/72 "2014-08-23T11:58:00Z")
Ursus horribilis, the horrible bear. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/73 "2014-08-23T20:48:28Z")
I like _Tetrax tetrax_, but it got a raw deal on its [common name](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_bustard). ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/74 "2014-08-23T21:39:01Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > _Metasequoia glyptostroboides_. Dawn redwood. I just like saying it. Me too! > [@troubledwater](#): > > I came in to say this one! Me too! > [@Ulfreida](#): > > Hey, that was my one! Me too! I’ve caused many hundreds of trees to be planted by design, finding, transporting, placing, pruning, caring for – just not actually digging the holes – and my very favorite is one particular Dawn Redwood. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/75 "2014-08-23T21:47:30Z")
_Gigantopithecus blacki_, the giant prehistoric ape of East Asia, hands down. In my nerdy wannabe anthropologist way, I keep imagining a character named Gigantopithecus Blackie in some satire or spoof of—of what, I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/76 "2014-08-24T23:57:01Z")
[angelica archangelica](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Angelica) the Garden Angelica. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/77 "2014-08-25T07:50:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Strigiphilus garylarsoni.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strigiphilus_garylarsoni) > A biting louse found on owls. The _entire reason_ I opened this Thread was to see how many posts it would take before someone mentioned _Strigiphilus garylarsoni_. **running coach** gets it in the very first reply. Well done, **running coach**. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/78 "2014-08-25T09:25:56Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Wiwaxia > > Amiskwia > > Aysheaia > > Opabinia > > Waptia > > Pikaia > > Ottoia There’s a joke in here somewhere, that I’m not going to say. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/79 "2021-09-22T14:48:33Z")
Just had a dream where I asked this question, and I figured I might as well bump this old thread as post a new one. I’m sure there are people here now with favorite scientific names who didn’t get to participate 7 years ago. My favorite is, for no good reason, Gadus Morhua. It just seems like a very metal name for the good old Atlantic Cod. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001/80 "2021-09-22T16:12:57Z")
We used to call the unwanted freshwater drum (fish) a _pogonias cromis_ when we caught one. That’s actually the name of the saltwater drum but pogonias cromis is fun to say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-scientific-names-of-plants-animals/696001.md?page=5)