List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names
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This list of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names is intended to help those unfamiliar with classical languages to understand and remember the scientific names of organisms. The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek words, as are some of the names used for higher taxa, such as orders and above. At the time when biologist Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) published the books that are now accepted as the starting point of binomial nomenclature, Latin was used in Western Europe as the common language of science, and scientific names were in Latin or Greek: Linnaeus continued this practice.
While learning Latin is now less common, it is still used by classical scholars, and for certain purposes in botany, medicine and the Roman Catholic Church, and it can still be found in scientific names. It is helpful to be able to understand the source of scientific names. Although the Latin names do not always correspond to the current English common names, they are often related, and if their meanings are understood, they are easier to recall. The binomial name often reflects limited knowledge or hearsay about a species at the time it was named. For instance Pan troglodytes, the chimpanzee, and Troglodytes troglodytes, the wren, are not necessarily cave-dwellers.
Sometimes a genus name or specific descriptor is simply the Latin or Greek name for the animal (e.g. Canis is Latin for dog). These words may not be included in the table below if they only occur for one or two taxa. Instead, the words listed below are the common adjectives and other modifiers that repeatedly occur in the scientific names of many organisms (in more than one genus).
Adjectives vary according to gender, and in most cases only the lemma form (nominative singular masculine form) is listed here. 1st-and-2nd-declension adjectives end in -us (masculine), -a (feminine) and -um (neuter), whereas 3rd-declension adjectives ending in -is (masculine and feminine) change to -e (neuter). For example, verus is listed without the variants for Aloe vera or Galium verum.
The second part of a binomial is often a person's name in the genitive case, ending -i (masculine) or -ae (feminine), such as Kaempfer's tody-tyrant, Hemitriccus kaempferi. The name may be converted into a Latinised form first, giving -ii and -iae instead.
Words that are very similar to their English forms have been omitted.
Some of the Greek transliterations given are Ancient Greek, and others are Modern Greek.
In the tables, L = Latin, G = Greek, and LG = similar in both languages.
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I–K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W–Z
- See also
- References
- External links
A
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acanthus etc. | G ἄκανθος (ákanthos) | thorny, spiny | Acanthus plant; Parorchis acanthus, a flatworm Munida acantha, a squat lobster; prickly ceratina, Ceratina acantha spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias; Reinhardt's snake-eater, Polemon acanthias cotton thistle, Onopordum acanthium | – – – |
| acaulis | G, L | stemless | silver thistle, Carlina acaulis; dwarf date palm, Phoenix acaulis | – |
| actin-, actino- | G ἀκτίς (aktis) | ray, radial | Schefflera actinophylla, Actinopterygii, Actinophryida | – |
| acutus | L | sharpened, pointed | American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus; angled sunbeam (butterfly), Curetis acuta; northern pintail, Anas acuta | – – |
| aculeatus | L | prickly | short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus; three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus; butcher's-broom, Ruscus aculeatus | – – |
| acuminatus | L | sharp, pointed, tapering | Jamaican gooseberry tree, Phyllanthus acuminatus; Panaeolus acuminatus, a mushroom cucumbertree, Magnolia acuminata; Musa acuminata, a banana tree acuminate barrenwort, Epimedium acuminatum; desert quandong, Santalum acuminatum | – – |
| adustus | L | singed, burnt | side-striped jackal, Canis adustus; dark onyx cowry, Erronea adusta | – – |
| aequalis | L | equal | common Atlantic grenadier, Nezumia aequalis; clay-coloured billbug, Sphenophorus aequalis Trogoxylon aequale, a beetle; Omophron aequale, a ground beetle | – |
| aestivus | L | summer | summer asphodel, Asphodelus aestivus; rough green snake, Opheodrys aestivus turquoise-fronted amazon, Amazona aestiva; summer spider orchid, Caladenia aestiva Loddon lily, Leucojum aestivum; common wheat, Triticum aestivum | – – |
| affinis | L | neighbouring, similar, kindred | lesser scaup, Aythya affinis; dugite, Pseudonaja affinis blue tongue, Melastoma affine; Persian violet, Exacum affine | – |
| africanus | L | African | reed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus; southern African frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus africana; African clubhook-squid, Notonykia africanae; pyjama shark, Poroderma africanum; lemon basil, Ocimum × africanum | – , – |
| agrestis | L | of the field, wild | field vole, Microtus agrestis; green field-speedwell, Veronica agrestis | – |
| alatus | L āla | winged | pitcher plant, Nepenthes alata; sharpwing monkeyflower, Mimulus alatus; winged elm, Ulmus alata; winged everlasting, Ammobium alatum; winged loosestrife, Lythrum alatum; winged seahorse, Hippocampus alatus; winged-stem passion flower, Passiflora alata | – – |
| albiceps | L | white-headed | blow fly, Chrysomya albiceps; moth, Syngamia albiceps; wood groundling, Parachronistis albiceps;Mexican golden red rump tarantula, Brachypelma albiceps | |
| albidens | L | white-toothed | white-toothed brush mouse, Coccymys albidens; see also leucodon | |
| albimanus | L albus, manus | white handed | Anopheles albimanus; Aulonia albimana, white-knuckled wolf spider; Habrocestum albimanum | – – |
| albopictus | L | painted white | Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus; Moneilema albopictum | – – |
| albus | L | white | white ibis, Eudocimus albus; white oak, Quercus alba; mistletoe, Viscum album | – – |
| alpinus | L | alpine; of the Alps | alpine aster, Aster alpinus; alpine bearberry, Arctostaphylos alpina; alpine feverfew, Parthenium alpinum | – – |
| amabilis | L | lovable | lovable lily, Lilium amabile; lovely cotinga, Cotinga amabilis; lovely fairywren, Malurus amabilis; lovely fir, Abies amabilis | – |
| ambiguus | L | uncertain | beautiful woolly sunflower, Eriophyllum ambiguum; doubtful cone, Conus ambiguus; questionable Stropharia, Stropharia ambigua; tick bush, Kunzea ambigua | – – |
| amblys | G ἀμβλύς (amblús) | blunt, dull | marine iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus | – |
| americanus | L | American | American black bear, Ursus americanus; American hazel nut, Corylus americana; American mastodon, Mammut americanum | – – |
| amphi- | G ἀμφί (amphí) | of all kinds, on all sides | amphibian; Amphipoda | |
| ampulla | L | bottle, flask | northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus | – – – |
| amurensis | L | from the Amur River | Amur grape, Vitis amurensis | – |
| anglicus | L | from England | Common cordgrass, Sporobolus anglicus; Bibio anglicus, a fly; English sundew, Drosera anglica; English whitebeam, Sorbus anglica; English stonecrop, Sedum anglicum | – – |
| angolensis | L | from Angola | African teak, Pterocarpus angolensis | – |
| angustiflorus | L | narrow-flowered | Eastwood's bellflower, Campanula angustiflora; narrowflower lupine, Lupinus angustiflorus | – – |
| angustifolius | L | narrow-leaved | narrowleaf cottongrass, Eriophorum angustifolium; narrowleaf cottonwood, Populus angustifolia; narrowleaf sunflower, Helianthus angustifolius | – – |
| angustus | L | narrow | narrow-banded widow, Dingana angusta; narrowleaf pansy monkeyflower, Mimulus angustatus; slimleaf bean, Phaseolus angustissimus; Prairie acacia, Acaciella angustissima; sea snail, Vexillum angustissimum | – – – – – – |
| antarcticus | L | of the southern hemisphere | chinstrap penguin, Pygoscelis antarcticus; gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus; brown skua, Stercorarius antarcticus | – – |
| anthos | G ἄνθος (ánthos) | flower | anthozoans, Anthozoa; golden wattle, Acacia pycnantha; | |
| anthropo- | G ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos) | man, human being | Paranthropus | |
| apis | L | bee | western honey bee, Apis mellifera; white sage, Salvia apiana | – – – |
| aquaticus | L | found near water | eastern mole, Scalopus aquaticus; wild rice, Zizania aquatica; water spinach, Ipomoea aquatica; parrot's-feather, Myriophyllum aquaticum, | – – |
| arborescens | L | tree-like or shrub-like | Artemisia arborescens; Aloe arborescens; Hydrangea arborescens | |
| archaeo- | G ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos) | ancient | Archaeopteryx | – |
| arch-, archi-, archo-, -archus | G ἀρχός (arkhos) | ruler, leader, prince, highest, greatest | Archidendron grandiflorum | – – |
| arctos | G ἄρκτος (árktos) | bear | grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis; common bearberry, Arctostaphylos | – |
| arena | L | sand | sand iris, Iris arenaria; sand rock-cress, Arabidopsis arenosa; sand seatrout, Cynoscion arenarius; sand-dusted cone, Conus arenatus | – – – – – |
| arenicolus | L | sand-dwelling | dunes sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus arenicolus; sand goldenrod, Solidago arenicola; sanddwelling dewberry, Rubus arenicola; sandy stargazer, Gillellus arenicola | – |
| argentatus | L | silvery | European herring gull, Larus argentatus | – – |
| argenteus | L | silvery | silver buffaloberry, Shepherdia argentea; silver tree, Leucadendron argenteum; silvery lupine, Lupinus argenteus; white mulberry, Pipturus argenteus | – – |
| argentum | L | silver | sea snail, Calliostoma argentum | |
| argillicola | L | living on clay | clay Fiddler Crab, Minuca argillicola; Hullsia argillicola | |
| aromatica | G ἄρωμα (árōma) | aromatic | clove nutmeg, Ravensara aromatica; Croton aromaticus; clove, Syzygium aromaticum | – – |
| arthro- | G ἄρθρον (árthron) | joint | Arthropoda | |
| arvensis | L | in the field | skylark, Alauda arvensis; field horsetail, Equisetum arvense | – |
| asiatica | L | Asian | white-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica; Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus, Persian buttercup, Ranunculus asiaticus | – |
| asperum | L | rough, uneven | freckled dapperling, Echinoderma asperum; pied warty frog, Theloderma asperum prickly chaff flower, Achyranthes aspera; Papuan ground boa, Candoia aspera | – |
| astro-, astero- | G ἄστρον (ástron) | star | starfish (class), Asteroidea | – |
| ater | L | dull black | common chuckwalla, Sauromalus ater; Eurasian coot, Fulica atra; black swan, Cygnus atratus; black yarrow, Achillea atrata; creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus see also niger | – – – – – |
| atropurpureus | L | deep purple, blackish-purple | Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'; Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea; purple-flowered cotoneaster, Cotoneaster atropurpureus | – – |
| aurantius, aurantiacus | L | orange-colored | bitter orange, Citrus aurantium | – – ; – – |
| aureus | L | golden | golden jackal, Canis aureus; Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria) see also chrysos | – – |
| auritus | L | having (large) ears | brown long-eared bat, Plecotus auritus; double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus; long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus moon jellyfish, Aurelia aurita yerba santa, Piper auritum; blue eared pheasant, Crossoptilon auritum | – – |
| australis | L | southern | southern right whale, Eubalaena australis | – |
B
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| baccatus | L | berry-bearing | common yew, Taxus baccata; Conus baccatus, a sea snail | – – |
| barbatus | L barba | bearded | bearded catasetum, Catasetum barbatum; bearded seal, Erignathus barbatus; black-chinned siskin, Spinus barbata; Bornean bearded pig, Sus barbatus; golden-beard penstemon, Penstemon barbatus | – – |
| bicolor | L | two-colored | bicolor angelfish, Centropyge bicolor; bicolor cleanerfish, Labroides bicolor; bicolored moth, Manulea bicolor | |
| bicoloratus | L | two-colored | bicolored angle, Macaria bicolorata; Kenya two-headed snake, Micrelaps bicoloratus; orchid, Bulbophyllum bicoloratum | – – |
| bicornis | L | two-horned | black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis | |
| biennis | L | of two years, lasting two years | Crepis biennis | |
| bios | G βίος (bíos) | life | amphibian; biota, all living things | |
| blandus | L | pleasant, smooth, alluring | Greek windflower, Anemone blanda; Mallos blandus, a spider | – – |
| borealis | L | northern | northern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis northern bedstraw, Galium boreale | – |
| brachion | G βραχίων (brakhíōn) | arm | Przewalski's gerbil, Brachiones przewalskii; Brachiopoda (phylum); Brachiosaurus | |
| brasiliensis | L | Brazilian | Brazilian brown bat Eptesicus brasiliensis | |
| brachy- | G βραχύς (brakhús) | short | Brazilian gold frog, Brachycephalus didactylus | |
| brachyphyllus | G | short-leaved | extinct plant genus, Brachyphyllum; flower, Colchicum brachyphyllum; leaf-nosed bats, Brachyphylla; shortleaf baccharis, Baccharis brachyphylla; see also brevifolius | – – |
| brady- | G βραδύς (bradús) | slow | pygmy three-toed sloth, Bradypus pygmaeus | |
| branchia | G βράγχιον (bránkhion) | gills | Lamellibranchia (class, syn. Bivalva); Branchiopoda (class, brine shrimps) | |
| brasiliensis | L | from Brazil | Brazilian marsh rat, Holochilus brasiliensis; Brazilian stick mantis, Brunneria brasiliensis; rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis | – |
| brevi- | L brevis | short | silvery-cheeked hornbill, Ceratogymna brevis | – – |
| brevicaudatus | L | short-tailed | bearded leaf chameleon, Rieppeleon brevicaudatus; sea snail, Lophiotoma brevicaudata; short-tailed ceratosoma, Ceratosoma brevicaudatum | – – |
| brevicollis | L | short-necked | short-necked oil beetle, Meloe brevicollis | – |
| brevifolius | L | short-leaved | Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia; short-leaved dudleya, Dudleya blochmaniae subsp. brevifolia; shortleaf sneezeweed, Helenium brevifolium; zig-zag bog-rush, Schoenus brevifolius; see also brachyphyllus | – – |
| brevirostris | L | short beak | pignosed arrowtooth eel, Dysomma brevirostre; shortnose ponyfish, Leiognathus brevirostris | – |
| britannicus | L | from Great Britain | Rumex britannica, a knotweed; British yellowhead, Inula britannica; Cortinarius britannicus, a mushroom; Geastrum britannicum, an earthstar fungus | – – |
| bulbus | G βολβός | bulb | bulbous buttercup, Ranunculus bulbosus; onion cone, Conus bulbus | – – |
C
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| caecus | L | blind | blind mole, Talpa caeca; northern eyed hawkmoth, Smerinthus caecus | – – |
| caeruleus | L | blue | Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus; blue passion flower, Passiflora caerulea | – – |
| californicus | L | California | California blue dorid, Felimare californiensis | – – |
| callosus | L | calloused | large vesper mouse, Calomys callosus; tree fern, Cyathea callosa; orchid, Paphiopedilum callosum | – – |
| calvus | L | bald | Altolamprologus calvus, Isbrueckerichthys calvus, both fish Banasa calva, a stink bug; Trichocorixa calva, a water boatman Intrasporangium calvum, a bacterium; Bulbophyllum calvum, an orchid | - – |
| cambricus | L, from Cambria | from Wales | wild cotoneaster, Cotoneaster cambricus; Alalcomenaeus cambricus, fossil arthropod Welsh wave, Venusia cambrica; Welsh eyebright, Euphrasia cambrica Welsh poppy, Papaver cambricum; limestone polypody, Polypodium cambricum Welsh groundsel, Senecio cambrensis; Flexicalymene cambrensis, a fossil trilobite | – – – |
| canadensis | L | from Canada | bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis | – |
| candidus | L | brightly white, shining white | Madonna lily, Lilium candidum | – – |
| canescens | L | turning grey- or white-haired | Geraea canescens (desert sunflower); Atriplex canescens | |
| canis | L | dog | coyote, Canis latrans; Dipylidium caninum (a tapeworm) | – – – |
| canorus | L canōrus | melodious | common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus; Chinese hwamei, Garrulax canorus Cuban grassquit, Phonipara canora; Campylocheta canora, a tachinid fly | – – |
| canus | L | gray (haired), pale gray | grey-headed woodpecker, Picus canus; woolly groundsel, Senecio canus | – – |
| caprae | L | of a goat | Staphylococcus caprae | – |
| castaneus | L | chestnut(-colored) | chestnut bolete, Gyroporus castaneus; reddish carpenter ant, Camponotus castaneus chestnut, Castanea; chestnut short-tailed bat, Carollia castanea chestnut leek orchid, Prasophyllum castaneum; red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum | – – |
| cauda | L | tail | long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus; thintail skate, Dipturus leptocaudus; northern short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda | |
| caulos | G καυλός (kaulós) | stem, stalk | stemless gentian, Gentiana acaulis | – |
| cephalo- | G κεφαλή (kephalḗ) | head | Mediterranean gull, Larus melanocephalus; blue-spotted grouper, Cephalopholis argus | |
| -ceps | L caput | head | pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps; biceps (two-headed muscle) | |
| ceros | L cornū G κέρας (kéras) | horn | narwal, Monodon monoceros; rhinoceros (nose horn) | |
| cest | L cestus G κεστός (kestós) | girdle, belt, stitched | Cestoda | |
| chaetes | G χαίτη (khaítē) | flowing hair, or mane | wildebeest, Connochaetes gnou; bristle worms, Polychaeta; earthworms, Oligochaeta | |
| chilensis | L | from Chile | paradise tanager, Tangara chilensis | – |
| chinensis | L | from China | China rose, Rosa chinensis; Chinese onion, Allium chinense; Chinese sumac, Rhus chinensis; see also Sinense, below | – |
| chloro- | G χλωρός (khlōrós) | pale green | common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus; green algae, Chlorophyta | |
| chordatus | L | spined | chordates; Stylephorus chordatus, Tinospora cordifolia | – – |
| chroma | G χρῶμα (khrôma) | color | clown loach, Chromobotia macracanthus | |
| chrysos | G χρυσός (khrusós) | gold | Chrysochloridae (golden moles); golden pheasant, Chrysolophus pictus; maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus; Chrysophyceae (golden algae) see also aureus | |
| chrysophyllus | G | gold-leaved | golden chinquapin, Chrysolepis chrysophylla; golden-leaved Jerusalem sage, Phlomis chrysophylla; satinleaf, Chrysophyllum oliviforme | – – |
| cilium | L | eyelash | Ashland thistle, Cirsium ciliolatum; bristleworm, Polydora ciliata; eyelash gecko, Correlophus ciliatus; queen angelfish, Holacanthus ciliaris; Australian red cedar, Toona ciliata; sickle-leaved cymodocea, Thalassodendron ciliatum | – – – – – |
| cinereus | L | ash, ash-colored | masked shrew, Sorex cinereus; Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea; gray thrasher, Toxostoma cinereum; common gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus | – – |
| cirrhus | G κιρρός (kirrhós) | orange | fringe-lipped bat, Trachops cirrhosus; mrigal carp, Cirrhinus cirrhosus; silverspotted sculpin, Blepsias cirrhosus | – – |
| citri | L | citrus | the citrus blossom moth, Prays citri | |
| colchicus | L | from Colchis (Greek Κολχῐ́ς, Kolchís) or Georgia | common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus; Phoxinus colchicus, a minnow Caucasian bladdernut, Staphylea colchica; Colchic holly, Ilex colchica Colchic nase, Chondrostoma colchicum; Cyclamen colchicum, a primrose | – – |
| cneme | G κνήμη (knḗmē) | shin, leg | white-legged damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes | |
| -cola | L -cola | inhabitant | Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola; paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola The forms -colus and -colum are also found, although they are not considered to be correct Latin: deepwater grenadier, Coryphaenoides profundicolus; black-sided flowerpecker, Dicaeum monticolum. | |
| clathratus | L | grated, latticed | kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus; clathrate nassa, Nassarius clathratus slender-armed starfish, Luidia clathrata; latticed sandperch, Parapercis clathrata Allium clathratum, an onion; Vexillum clathratum, a sea snail | – – |
| collaris | L | collared | ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris; collared pika, Ochotona collaris collared carpetshark, Parascyllium collare; mottled sand grasshopper, Spharagemon collare | – |
| communis | L | common | common juniper, Juniperus communis; common myrtle, Myrtus communis star jelly, Nostoc commune; great golden maidenhair, Polytrichum commune | – |
| compressus | L compressus | slender, pressed together | slender oatgrass, Danthonia compressa; slender crayfish, Faxonius compressus emerald cockroach wasp, Ampulex compressa; empire gudgeon, Hypseleotris compressa Dendrobium compressum, an orchid | – – |
| concolor | L | having uniform color throughout | cougar, Puma concolor; white fir, Abies concolor | |
| conno- | G κόννος (kónnos) | beard | wildebeest, Connochaetes gnou | |
| copros | G κόπρος (kópros) | excrement | Copris, genus of dung beetles; coprophilous, 'growing on animal dung' | |
| corax | L corvus G κόραξ (kórax) | crow, raven | common raven, Corvus corax | |
| cordatus | L | heart-shaped | cordate (leaf shape); small-leaved lime, Tilia cordata; sea potato, Echinocardium cordatum | – – |
| cordifolius | L | heart-shaped leaves | heartleaf aster, Symphyotrichum cordifolium; heart-leaved moonseed, Tinospora cordifolia; Tucson bur ragweed, Ambrosia cordifolia | – – |
| coriaceus | L, from corium ("leather") | leathery | Pajahuello tick, Ornithodoros coriaceus; beach bird's eye, Alectryon coriaceus blue china vine, Holboellia coriacea; leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea green tea-tree, Leptospermum coriaceum; inland rock orchid, Dendrobium coriaceum | – – |
| cornu | L cornū | horn | garden snail, Cornu aspersum; great ramshorn, Planorbarius corneus | |
| coronatus | L | crowned | crowned lemur, Eulemur coronatus; crowned turban shell, Lunella coronata | – – |
| costatus | L | ribbed | ribbed slipper shell, Maoricrypta costata; striped Raphael catfish, Platydoras costatus | – – |
| crassus, crassi- | L | thick, fat | creeping blueberry, Vaccinium crassifolium; inflated spiny crab, Rochinia crassa; mouthless crab, Cardisoma crassum | – – |
| cristatus | L | crested | aardwolf, Proteles cristatus; blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata; crested wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum | – – |
| crocos | G κρόκος (krókos) | yellow | bicoloured white-toothed shrew, Crocidura leucodon; saffron, Crocus sativus; spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta | |
| cryo- | G κρύος (krúos) | cold | Cryodraco; Cryolophosaurus; Cryosophila | |
| crypto- | G κρυπτός (kruptós) | hidden | Cryptococcus; Cryptosporidium | |
| culminicola | L | summit dweller | Elaeocarpus culminicola; Euxoa culminicola; Pinus culminicola, Potosi pinyon | |
| cursor | L | runner, racer | cream-coloured courser, Cursorius cursor; cursorial akodont, Akodon cursor; Lacépède's ground snake, Erythrolamprus cursor | |
| curvirostris | L | curved beak | boxer snipe eel, Nemichthys curvirostris; curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre | – |
| cyano- | G κυανός (kuanós) | blue-green | azure-winged magpie, Cyanopica cyanus; big blue octopus, Octopus cyanea; blue orchid, Aganisia cyanea | – – – |
D
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dactyl-, dactylo- | G δάκτυλος (dáktulos) | finger or toe | black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla; Pterodactylus | |
| deca-, deka- | G δέκα (déka) | ten | alfonsino, Beryx decadactylus | |
| decem | L | ten | Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata | |
| delphis | G δελφύς (delphús) | womb | virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana | |
| dendr-, dendri-, dendro-, -dendron, -dendrum | G δένδρον (déndron) | tree | Philodendron, Dendrobium, Rhododendron | – – |
| derma | G δέρμα (dérma) | skin | yellow staining mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus | |
| di- | G δι- (di-) | two | Christmas orchid, Dipodium punctatum | Too common a letter combination for any useful search |
| diffusus | L diffundere | diffuse | diffuse spineflower, Chorizanthe diffusa; fly, Paralimnophila diffusior; rush, Juncus diffusissimus; spreading groundsmoke, Gayophytum diffusum; spreading lupine, Lupinus diffusus; spreading phlox, Phlox diffusa | – – – – |
| digitatus | L | having fingers | finger rush Juncus digitatus; baobab, Adansonia digitata; dead man's fingers, Alcyonium digitatum | – – |
| dilatatus | L | dilated, extended | dallisgrass, Paspalum dilatatum; Maianthemum dilatatum | – – |
| dioica | L | dioicous | common nettle, Urtica dioica | |
| dino-, deino- | G δεινός (deinós) | terrifying | dinosaur, Deinotherium | |
| diplo- | G διπλός (diplós) | double | two-eyed orange spider, Diploglena capensis | |
| disc, disk | G δίσκος (dískos) | disc | common fungus moth, Metalectra discalis | – – |
| dodeca- | G δώδεκα (dṓdeka) | twelve | Henderson's shootingstar, Dodecatheon hendersonii | |
| dolicho- | G δολιχός (dolikhós) | elongated, long | knight anole, Anolis dolichocephalus | |
| domesticus | L | of the house or domestic | domestic pig, Sus scrofa domestica; house sparrow, Passer domesticus | – – |
| dorsum | L | back | back-striped weasel, Mustela strigidorsa | |
| dubius | L | doubtful | little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius see also nomina dubia | – |
| dulcis | L | sweet | almond, Prunus dulcis | – |
| dumetorum | L, from dumus, "bramble" | "of the thickets" | Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum; bitter yam, Dioscorea dumetorum; coastal green hairstreak, Callophrys dumetorum | |
| dumicola | L | scrub dweller | Acaena dumicola; Cerbera dumicola; Stegodyphus dumicola, African social spider |
E
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eburneus | L eburneus | ivory-colored | ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea | – – |
| echinatus | L | prickly, spiny | Edisto crayfish, Procambarus echinatus; shortleaf pine, Pinus echinata | – – |
| echino- | L echīnus G ἐχῖνος (ekhînos) | hedgehog, sea-urchin | great globe thistle, Echinops sphaerocephalus; diadema urchin, Echinothrix diadema; San Pedro cactus, Echinopsis pachanoi | |
| edulis | L | edible | common cockle, Cerastoderma edule; king bolete, Boletus edulis; oyster, Ostrea edulis; passion fruit, Passiflora edulis | – |
| elatior | L | taller | true oxlip, Primula elatior | |
| electro- | G ἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron) | amber, amber-colored or electric (modern usage) | broad-billed motmot, Electron platyrhynchum; electric eel, Electrophorus electricus | No simple way to distinguish biological from other uses |
| elegans | L | elegant | crimson rosella, Platycercus elegans; Granastyochus elegantissimus; Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima; false aralia, Plerandra elegantissima; Caecum elegantissimum | – – – |
| emarginatus | L | having no edges | Phongolo suckermouth, Chiloglanis emarginatus; Gibraltar sea lavender, Limonium emarginatum; acerola, Malpighia emarginata; bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata | – – |
| enanti- | G ἐναντίος (enantíos) | opposite, against | Enantiornithes | |
| ennea- | G ἐννέα (ennéa) | nine | banded sunfish Enneacanthus obesus; scurvy-grass sorrel, Oxalis enneaphylla | |
| ensatus | L | sword-like | California giant salamander, Dicamptodon ensatus | – – |
| ensis, ensi- | L | sword, lance | jackknife clam, Ensis minor; swordleaf rush, Juncus ensifolius | – |
| -ensis | L | of, from (a place) | Tadarida brasiliensis (Brazilian free-tailed bat); Lucy, Australopithecus afarensis | |
| eques | L | knight, horseman | North Atlantic codling, Lepidion eques; western horse lubber grasshopper, Taeniopoda eques; leafy seadragon, Phycodurus eques Aspergillus equitis; Cygnus equitum; Hoheria equitum | |
| erectus | L | upright | Homo erectus ("upright man"); upright chickweed, Moenchia erecta | – – |
| erio- | G ἔριον (érion) | wool, woolly | common cottongrass, Eriophorum angustifolium | |
| erosus | L | indented, jagged, serrated | jícama, Pachyrhizus erosus; serrated hinge-back tortoise, Kinixys erosa | – – |
| erythro- | G ἐρυθρός (eruthrós) | red | spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus; dog's-tooth violet, Erythronium dens-canis | |
| esculentus | L | edible | edible frog, Pelophylax kl. esculentus; Gyromitra esculenta | |
| europaeus | L | European | European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus; European owl moth, Brahmaea europaea | – – |
| Euryops | G | wide-eyed | euryops, plant genus; Goiter blacksmelt, Bathylagus euryops | |
| excelsus | L | exalted | African teak, Milicia excelsa; excelsior cone, Conus excelsus | – – |
| exiguus | L | small, slight | scanty frog, Cophixalus exiguus; tongue louse, Cymothoa exigua; obese thorn snail, Carychium exiguum | – – |
F
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fallax | L | false | false swift, Borbo fallax; green marvel, Acronicta fallax | |
| falx | L | sickle | sickle milkvetch, Astragalus falcatus; sickle-leaved hare's-ear, Bupleurum falcatum; sicklethorn, Asparagus falcatus; wild pear, Persoonia falcata | – – – – |
| familiaris | L | domestic, common, familiar | dog, Canis lupus familiaris | |
| felis | L | cat | black-footed cat, Felis nigripes; cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis | |
| felinus | L | cat-like, feline | cat gecko, Aeluroscalabotes felinus; marine otter, Lontra felina | – – |
| -fer | L | -bearing | western honey bee, Apis mellifera; coconut, Cocos nucifera | |
| ferox | L | ferocious, wild, bold | long snouted lancetfish, Alepisaurus ferox; fossa, Cryptoprocta ferox | |
| ferus | L | wild | wild horse, Equus ferus; wild Bactrian camel, Camelus ferus | – – |
| ferrugo | L | rust | ferruginous swift, Borbo ferruginea; reddish-brown corky spine fungus, Hydnellum ferrugineum; rusty bloodwood, Corymbia ferruginea; rusty parrotfish, Scarus ferrugineus; rusty pitohui, Pseudorectes ferrugineus | – – |
| fidelis | L | faithful | faithful sea slug, Goniobranchus fidelis; faithful leafcutting bee, Megachile fidelis; Pacific sideband, Monadenia fidelis | |
| filum | L | thread | desert fan palm, Washingtonia filifera; thread fern, Blechnum filiforme; thread-leaved sundew, Drosera filiformis | – – – |
| fimbriatus | L | fringed, fibrous | Coomsaharn char, Salvelinus fimbriatus; crested gliding lizard, Draco fimbriatus trumpet cup lichen, Cladonia fimbriata; fringed jumping spider, Portia fimbriata fringed earthstar, Geastrum fimbriatum; gang-gang cockatoo, Callocephalon fimbriatum | – – |
| flavus | L | golden yellow, light yellow | yellow pitcher plant, Sarracenia flava; yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis | – – |
| floridus | L | flowery | blue palo verde, Parkinsonia florida; floral banded wobbegong, Orectolobus floridus | – |
| flor- | L flos | flower | southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora; great white trillium, Trillium grandiflorum | |
| fodiens | L fodere | digging | burying beetle, Nicrophorus defodiens; burying beetle, Nicrophorus infodiens; Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens; lowland burrowing tree frog, Smilisca fodiens | |
| folium | L | leaf | Foliicolous, 'growing on leaves'; American beech, Fagus grandifolia; broad-leaved sermountain, Laserpitium latifolium; Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia; Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia; upright snottygobble, Persoonia longifolia | |
| formosanus | L fōrmōsānus | from Taiwan (formerly called Formosa) | Formosan black bear, Ursus thibetanus formosanus; Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Taiwan flower mantis, Acromantis formosana; Taiwanese sweet gum, Liquidambar formosana red quinoa, Chenopodium formosanum; Taiwan saddled carpetshark, Cirrhoscyllium formosanum | – – |
| formosus | L fōrmōsus | (well-)formed, beautiful | beautiful bronzeback tree snake, Dendrelaphis formosus; Asian arowana, Scleropages formosus Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa; least killifish, Heterandria formosa giant maidenhair, Adiantum formosum; beautiful giant-flowered dendrobium, Dendrobium formosum | – – |
| fragilis | L frangere | breakable | brittle bladder-fern, Cystopteris fragilis; brittle willow, Salix × fragilis; candy cap, Lactarius fragilis; Dientamoeba fragilis; dead man's fingers, Codium fragile; fragile wart frog, Limnonectes fragilis | |
| fructus | L | fruit | Aspergillus fructus, a fungus species; fructose, fruit sugar; fructicolous, 'growing on fruit' | |
| fuliginosus | L | sooty | jet black ant, Lasius fuliginosus; ruby tiger, Phragmatobia fuliginosa; sooty hairstreak, Satyrium fuliginosum; sooty milkcap, Lactarius fuliginosus | – – |
| fulvus | L | deep yellow, tawny | Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva; sulphur leather coral, Rhytisma fulvum; tawny grisette, Amanita fulva; yellow ground squirrel, Spermophilus fulvus | – – |
| furcatus | L | forked | forked viburnum, Viburnum furcatum; forked wormwood, Artemisia furcata; swallow-tailed gull, Creagrus furcatus | – – |
| fuscus | L | dark, dark brown | dusky hopping mouse, Notomys fuscus; dusky pitcher-plant, Nepenthes fusca; rusty peat moss, Sphagnum fuscum; sooty tern, Sterna fuscata | – – |
G
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gala, galum | G γάλα (gála) | milk | soap plants, Chlorogalum | |
| garrulus | L | chattering, talkative | Garrulus, a genus of jays; Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Eupithecia garrula, an inchworm moth; chestnut-winged chachalaca, Ortalis garrula Chelostoma garrulum, a carder bee; Omicron garrulum, a potter wasp | – – |
| gaster, gastro-, gastr- | L gaster G γαστήρ (gastḗr) | belly | common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster; Gastropoda | |
| geo- | G γαῖα, γῆ (gê) | Earth | Conus geographus, geography cone; Geotrichum | |
| giganteus | L | giant | giganteus (a sea snail); Aldabra giant tortoise, Aldabrachelys gigantea | – – |
| gigas | G γίγας | giant | Humboldt squid, Dosidicus gigas; snow morel, Gyromitra gigas; cœur de la mer, Entada gigas | |
| glaber | L glaber | smooth; hairless | naked mole-rat, Heterocephalus glaber; smooth sumac, Rhus glabra; Omphiscola glabra (a snail) | – – |
| glacialis | L | found in glaciers | North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis; glacier wormwood, Artemisia glacialis glacier lantern fish, Benthosema glaciale; Endocellion glaciale, a daisy | – |
| glandulosus | L | having kernels | Tasmanian laurel, Anopterus glandulosus, Basilan Island caecilian, Ichthyophis glandulosus; honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa, warty jumping-slug, Hemphillia glandulosa; skunk currant, Ribes glandulosum, | – – |
| glaucus | L glaucus G γλαυκός (glaukós) | blue-green, blue-gray, gleaming | silvery blue butterfly, Lepidochrysops glauca; Glaucidae, nudibranch family | – – |
| glutinosus | L glutinosus | sticky | common alder, Alnus glutinosa; viscid black earth tongue, Glutinoglossum glutinosum; northern slimy salamander, Plethodon glutinosus | – – |
| glyco-, glycy-, glyc- | G γλυκύς (glukús) | sweet | liquorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra; soybean, Glycine max | |
| gonatista | G γονατιστα | kneeling | lichen mimic, Gonatista grisea | gonatista |
| gracilis, gracile | L | slender, graceful | western spotted skunk, Spilogale gracilis; slough darter, Etheostoma gracile; Gracilisuchus | – |
| gracilipes | L grăcĭlĭpes | slender-footed | slender frog, Austrochaperina gracilipes; slender-legged bushfrog, Gracixalus gracilipes; slenderstalk monkeyflower, Mimulus gracilipes; slimfoot century plant, Agave gracilipes | |
| graniticus | L | granite | granite claw flower, Calothamnus graniticus; granite poverty bush, Eremophila granitica; granite serpentweed, Tonestus graniticus | – – |
| graveolens | L gravis | strong-smelling | common rue, Ruta graveolens; lippia, Lippia graveolens | |
| gregarius | L gregārius, from grex (“flock, herd”) | sociable | sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius; goldfish plant, Nematanthus gregarius; desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria; Leptospermum gregarium, an Australian myrtle | – – |
| griseus | L (a Neo-Latin loanword from Germanic) | grey | desert monitor, Varanus griseus; bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus; parent bug, Elasmucha grisea; lichen mimic, Gonatista grisea paperbark maple, Acer griseum; white-banded house jumping spider, Hypoblemum griseum | – – |
| groenlandicus | L | from Greenland (Old Norse Grœnland) | harp seal, Pagophilus groenlandicus; spiny lobster, Lebbeus groenlandicus Arctic woolly bear moth, Gynaephora groenlandica; elephanthead lousewort, Pedicularis groenlandica bog Labrador tea, Rhododendron groenlandicum | – – |
| gyrino-, gyrinus | G γυρῖνος (gurînos) | tadpole | spring salamander, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus; e.g. Crassigyrinus, Proterogyrinus |
H
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| haema-, hema- | G αἷμα (haîma) | blood | Haemosporida; Bacteria sp., Haemophilus influenzae, House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus | |
| hali-, halio-, halo- | G ἅλς (háls) | of the sea, salt | Steller's sea eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus; grey seal, Halichoerus grypus; black abalone, Haliotis cracherodii | |
| hamatus | L | hooked | Slender-billed kite, Helicolestes hamatus; Ruitersbos pincushion, Leucospermum hamatum; Dark Tiger (butterfly) Tirumala hamata | – – |
| haplo- | G ἁπλόος (haplóos) | simple, single | mountain beaver, Aplodontia rufa; Mongolosaurus haplodon | |
| hedra- | G ἕδρα (hédra) | seat, facet | Chinese ephedra, Ephedra sinica | |
| helio- | G ἥλιος (hḗlios) | sun | sunflower, Helianthus annuus; sun spurge, Euphorbia helioscopia | |
| hemisphaerica | G | half-sphere | sand laurel oak, Quercus hemisphaerica, sulphur rose, Rosa hemisphaerica | |
| hetero- | G | diversely or different | melancholy thistle, Cirsium heterophyllum, Leucanthemum heterophyllum, Smith's cress, Lepidium heterophyllum | |
| hexa- | G ἕξ (héx) | six | water primrose, Ludwigia hexapetala | |
| hibernicus | L | from Ireland | Irish whitebeam, Sorbus hibernica; Atlantic ivy, Hedera hibernica; Southern bristetail, Dilta hibernica; Irish hare, Lepus timidus hibernicus; Mycobacterium hiberniae; Pisidium hibernicum | – – – |
| hibridus | L | hybrid | butterbur, Petasites hybridus, brown spider monkey, Ateles hybridus; kelp goose, Chloephaga hybrida; alsike clover, Trifolium hybridum; | – – – – – |
| hippo- | G ἵππος (híppos) | horse | seahorse, Hippocampus; lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros | |
| hirsutus | L | hairy | hairy bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta; hairy fruit-eating bat, Artibeus hirsutus; hairy St John's-wort, Hypericum hirsutum | – – |
| hispidus | L | rough, shaggy, bristly, prickly | banded coral shrimp, Stenopus hispidus; shaggy bracket, Inonotus hispidus ringed seal, Pusa hispida; wax gourd, Benincasa hispida bristly starbur, Acanthospermum hispidum; white butterfly triggerplant, Stylidium hispidum | – – |
| homo | L | human, man | modern human, Homo sapiens; Neanderthal, Homo neanderthalensis | |
| hortensis | L hortus | from the garden | broad-leaved anemone, Anemone hortensis; garden orache, Atriplex hortensis; Mexican longwing, Heliconius hortense; Orphean warbler, Sylvia hortensis | – |
| humilis | L | low, small, humble | Mediterranean dwarf palm, Chamaerops humilis; Talaud flying fox, Acerodon humilis Argentine ant, Linepithema humile; Italian jasmine, Jasminum humile | – |
| hydro- | G ὕδωρ, ὑδρο- (húdōr, hudro-) | water | Chinese water deer, Hydropotes inermis; capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris | |
| hyemalis | L hiems | winter | dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis; winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis rough horsetail, Equisetum hyemale; putty root, Aplectrum hyemale Mucor hiemalis and Hebeloma hiemale, both fungi | – – – |
| hyper- | G ὑπέρ (hupér) | over, above | St John's wort, Hypericum perforatum | |
| hyperboreus | G ὑπέρ Βορέᾱ (hupér Boréā) | from the Arctic region (Hyperborea) | glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus; tundra fleabane, Erigeron hyperboreus tangle or cuvie, Laminaria hyperborea; estuary beggarsticks, Bidens hyperborea boreal bur-reed, Sparganium hyperboreum; boreal haircap moss, Polytrichum hyperboreum | – – |
| hypo-, hyp- | G ὑπό (hupó) | under, beneath | zebra pleco catfish, Hypancistrus zebra; common cat's-ear, Hypochaeris radicata |
I–K
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iliacus | L | having a distinctive flank | redwing, Turdus iliacus; Etaxalus iliacus, a beetle fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca; Rhytiphora iliaca, a beetle | – |
| imbricatus | L | tiled | Mountain owl's-clover, Orthocarpus imbricatus | – – |
| indicus | L | Indian | Malaysian tapir, Tapirus indicus | – – |
| inaequalis | L | unequal | variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis | – |
| inedulis | L | inedible | fungus, Caloboletus inedulis | – |
| inermis | L | unarmed, defenceless | water deer, Hydropotes inermis; henna tree, Lawsonia inermis turkey-berry, Canthium inerme; white milkwood, Sideroxylon inerme | – |
| ingratus | L | offensive | See Ingrata | – – |
| innotatus | L | unmarked | unmarked dagger moth, Acronicta innotata | |
| irregularis | L | unusual or irregular | variable burrowing asp, Atractaspis irregularis; viper's bugloss, Hadena irregularis | – |
| japonicus | L | Japanese | food wrapper plant, Mallotus japonicus; Japanese pagoda tree, Styphnolobium japonicum; Japanese spiraea, Spiraea japonica; see also nipponensis | – – |
| jubatus | L iubātus | having a mane, crested | cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus; Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus purple pampas grass, Cortaderia jubata; maned forest lizard, Bronchocela jubata foxtail barley, Hordeum jubatum; Piptochaetium jubatum, a speargrass species | – – |
| kentuckiensis | L | from Kentucky | Kentucky lady's slipper, Cypripedium kentuckiense; Kentucky lichen moth, Cisthene kentuckiensis | – |
L
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lact- | L lac | milk, sap, milky white | Chinese peony, Paeonia lactiflora; milk-caps, Lactifluus; Lactophrys; Aspalathus lactea | |
| laetus | L | pleasant, bright | Crombrugghia laetus, scarce light plume moth; Myoporum laetum, mousehole tree; Parhelophilus laetus | – |
| laevis | L | smooth | red-eyed assassin bug, Platymeris laevicollis; smooth bedstraw, Cruciata laevipes | |
| lagus | G λαγώς (lagṓs) | hare | European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus; viscachas, Lagidium spp. | |
| lancea | L | lance | sculptured seamoth, Pegasus lancifer; swamp lousewort, Pedicularis lanceolata | |
| lateralis | L | side | black-flanked rock-wallaby, Petrogale lateralis | |
| lapponicus | L | from Lapland/Sápmi (Neo-Latin Lapponia) | Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus; Lapland mountain sorrel, Rumex lapponicus bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica; pincushion plant, Diapensia lapponica Lapland rosebay, Rhododendron lapponicum; Lapland poppy, Papaver lapponicum | – – |
| latus | L | flank; broad | horse-eye jack, Caranx latus; wideleaf waterparsnip, Sium latifolium; wych elm, Ulmus glabra 'Latifolia Aurea' | |
| laxus | L | wide, yielding | American globeflower, Trollius laxus; Cyperus laxus, a sedge flowering grass, Freesia laxa; tufted forget-me-not, Myosotis laxa Bredasdorp conebush, Leucadendron laxum; false lily turf, Chlorophytum laxum | – – |
| lepidus | L | pleasant, pleasing, charming | rock rattlesnake, Crotalus lepidus; ocellated lizard, Timon lepidus desert woodrat, Neotoma lepida; embossed hawthorn buprestid, Dicerca lepida greenthroat darter, Etheostoma lepidum; Leccinellum lepidum, a bolete | – – |
| lepis, lepido- | G λεπίς (lepís) | scale, rind, husk, flake | large-scale mullet, Liza macrolepis; Lepidoptera | |
| lepto-, lepti- | G λεπτός (leptós) | light | Leptictidium auderiense, Leptospira kirschneri | |
| lepus | L | hare | black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus | |
| leuco-, leuc- | G λευκός (leukós) | white | white-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus | |
| leucocephalus | G | white-headed | bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus; white-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala; white-headed marsh tyrant, Arundinicola leucocephala; white-headed stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus; also see albiceps | – – |
| leucodon | G | white-toothed | bicolored shrew, Crocidura leucodon; lesser mole-rat, Spalax leucodon; white-toothed cowry, Cypraea leucodon; white-toothed woodrat, Neotoma leucodon; also see albidens | |
| leucurus | G | white-tailed | white-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura; white-tailed robin, Cinclidium leucurum; white-tailed stonechat, Saxicola leucurus | – – |
| lignum | L | wood | Guaiacum, lignum-vitae; Vitex lignum-vitae, yellow hollywood tree; lignicolous, 'growing on wood'; Lignum nephriticum | |
| limosus | L | muddy | limosa harlequin frog, Atelopus limosus; mud amnicola, Amnicola limosus | – – |
| lineatus | L | lined or striped | thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Ictidomys tridecemlineatus; Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata | |
| lobos | L lobus G λοβός (lobós) | lobe | three-lobe buttercup, Ranunculus trilobus | |
| longi- | L longus | long | frog shark, Somniosus longus, galingale, Cyperus longus; Turmeric, Curcuma longa; Long pepper, Piper longum, | – – – |
| longicaudatus | L | long-tailed | long-tailed pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus; longtail catfish, Olyra longicaudata; longtail tadpole shrimp Triops longicaudatus | – – |
| longicollis | L | long-necked | eastern long-necked turtle, Chelodina longicollis | – |
| longifolius | L | long-leaved | long-leaf persoonia, Persoonia longifolia; long-leaf wild buckwheat, Eriogonum longifolium; long-leaved butterwort, Pinguicula longifolia; longleaf bush lupine, Lupinus longifolius; longleaf sunflower, Helianthus longifolius | – – |
| longirostris | L | long beak | longbeak buttercup, Ranunculus longirostris; longsnout blacksmelt, Dolicholagus longirostris | – |
| luctuosus | L | sorrowful, mournful | forget-me-not bug, Sehirus luctuosus; white-shouldered tanager, Tachyphonus luctuosus; four-spotted moth, Tyta luctuosa | – – |
| luminosus | L | glowing | cucubano, Ignelater luminuosus; New Zealand glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa; striped flying squid, Eucleoteuthis luminosa | – – |
| lupus, lupo- | L | (resembling a) wolf | grey wolf, Canis lupus; wolf blenny, Omox lupus; headwater catfish, Ictalurus lupus; wolfsnout goby, Luposicya lupus | |
| luteus | L | yellow, saffron-colored | yellow mariposa lily, Calochortus luteus; yellow vetch, Vicia lutea; red-billed leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea | – – |
M
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| macro- | G μακρός (makrós) | long, large | big-headed mole rat, Tachyoryctes macrocephalus; rock onion, Allium macrum; sea snail, Turbonilla macra | – |
| macroura | G | long-tailed | hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura | |
| maculatus | L | spotted | tiger quoll, Dasyurus maculatus; spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius | – – |
| madagascariensis | L | from Madagascar | Madagascar day gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis; Malagasy ground boa, Acrantophis madagascariensis; Malagasy tree boa, Sanzinia madagascariensis; Madagascar fruit-bat argasid, Ornithodoros madagascariensis | |
| magnus | L | great, large | streaked spiderhunter, Arachnothera magna | – – |
| major | L | greater | great tit, Parus major | |
| malabaricus | L | from Malabar | chestnut-tailed starling, Sturnia malabaricus | |
| marginatus | L | bordered | gold edge Japanese euonymus, Euonymus japonicus 'Aureomarginatus'; marginated tortoise, Testudo marginata | – – |
| maritima | L | of the sea | sea beet, Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima; samphire, Crithmum maritimum, sea holly, Eryngium maritimum; polar bear, Ursus maritimus, sea rush, Juncus maritimus, | – – |
| mauretanicus | L | from Mauretania (the Maghreb, northwest Africa) | Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus; Moroccan hairstreak, Tomares mauretanicus Adscita mauretanica, a moth; Marginella mauretanica, a sea snail | – – |
| mauro- | G μαυρός (maurós) | dark, black | dark shrew, Crocidura maurisca | |
| maximus | L | largest | royal tern, Thalasseus maximus | |
| mega- | G μέγας (mégas) | large, great | megalodon shark, Otodus megalodon | |
| megacephalus | G | big-headed | Andriyashev large-headed sculpin, Andriashevicottus megacephalus; big-head rush, Juncus megacephalus; big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala; big-headed tiger beetle, Megacephala megacephala; coastal plain hawkweed, Hieracium megacephalum; large-headed rice rat, Hylaeamys megacephalus | – – |
| mel | L | honey | black sage, Salvia mellifera; Nephelium melliferum; western honey bee, Apis mellifera | |
| melano- | G μελανός (melanós) | black | black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris | – |
| melanocephalus | G | black-headed | black-headed fleabane, Erigeron melanocephalus; black-headed snake, Tantilla melanocephala; ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum | – – |
| melanophyllus | G | black-leaved | Melanophylla; Melanophyllum | – – |
| melanops | G | black-eyed, black-faced | black-eyed blue, Glaucopsyche melanops; black-fronted dotterel, Elseyornis melanops; gray spiny mouse, Scolomys melanops | |
| mephitis | L | bad odor | striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis; yellow-pigmented bacteria, Luteimonas mephitis | |
| meridionalis | L | southern | southern oak bush cricket, Meconema meridionale; Andean blueberry, Vaccinium meridionale southern mammoth, Mammuthus meridionalis; Zimbabwe grey baboon tarantula, Ceratogyrus meridionalis | – |
| micro- | G μικρός (mikrós) | small | littleleaf pussytoes, Antennaria microphylla | |
| microphyllus | G | small-leaved | baby sage, Salvia microphylla; boxleaf azara, Azara microphylla; littleleaf box, Buxus microphylla; littleleaf mock-orange, Philadelphus microphyllus; small-leaf climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum | – – |
| minimus | L | smallest | least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus | |
| minor | L | smaller | great frigatebird, Fregata minor | |
| minuta | L | small | dwarf waterclover, Marsilea minuta, little cuckoo, Coccycua minuta; little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus, harvest mouse, Micromys minutus; little willowherb, Epilobium minutum, | – – |
| mitra | LG | headband, turban or mitre | Mitra spp., mitre shells; Gyromitra esculenta, false morel; Psittacara mitratus, mitred conure; Presbytis mitrata, mitered langur | – – – |
| monile | L | necklace | Conus monilifer | |
| mono- | G μόνος (mónos) | single | Swinhoe's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis; Monotreme | |
| monoica | L | monoicous | the sandpaper saucer-berry, Cordia monoica | |
| monospermus | L | Having a single sperm cell | one-seed juniper Juniperus monosperma | – – |
| monspeliensis | L | from Montpellier | Montpellier cistus, Cistus monspeliensis | – – – |
| montanus | L mons | of the mountains | mountain bottlebrush, Melaleuca montana; mountain mahogany, Cercocarpus montanus; mountain thistle, Acanthus montanus; tree sparrow, Passer montanus | |
| morpho- | G μορφή (morphḗ) | shape | Menelaus blue morpho, Morpho menelaus | |
| mus, mys | L mūs G μῦς (mûs) | mouse | house mouse, Mus musculus; as rodent, e.g. Phoberomys, Telicomys | |
| mulgere | G | to milk | European nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus | Caprimulgus |
| muralis | L | growing on the wall | annual wall-rocket Diplotaxis muralis, Psammophiliella muralis |
N
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| naevius | L | having moles or spots | varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius; spotted salamander, Hynobius naevius striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia; common grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia spotted oncidium, Oncidium naevium; Cyrtidium naevium, a fungus | – – |
| nanos | G νᾶνος (nânos) L nanus | dwarf | brown-capped woodpecker, Dendrocopos nanus; dwarf birch, Betula nana; dwarf shrew, Sorex nanus | |
| natans | L | floating | Water caltrop, Trapa natans | |
| neomexicanus | L | from New Mexico | New Mexico whiptail, Aspidoscelis neomexicanus; New Mexican yucca, Yucca neomexicana; New Mexico thistle, Cirsium neomexicanum | – – |
| naevius | L | having moles or spots | varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius; spotted salamander, Hynobius naevius striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia; common grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia spotted oncidium, Oncidium naevium; Cyrtidium naevium, a fungus | – – |
| nexus | L | tied, bound | Eschmeyer nexus, a fish Phragmatiphila nexa, a moth | – – |
| nippon(ensis) | L | from Japan (natively known as Nippon) | freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium nipponense; Japanese bobtail squid, Sepiolina nipponensis; Sika deer, Cervus nippon; Crested ibis, Nipponia nippon See also: japonicus | – – |
| nitidus | L nitere | shining | Baja cape kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula nitida; Mauritius blue pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissima; shining pea clam, Pisidium nitidum; shining tree iguana, Liolaemus nitidus | – – |
| nix | L | snow | snow buckwheat, Eriogonum niveum; snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis; snow petrel, Pagodroma nivea; snow sheep Ovis nivicola; snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus; snowy primrose, Primula nivalis; snowy sunflower, Helianthus niveus; | – – – – |
| nonus | L | ninth | honey fungus, Armillaria nabsnona | |
| norvegicus | L | from Norway | Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus; brown rat, Rattus norvegicus; rose fish, Sebastes norvegicus; Northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica; highland cudweed, Gnaphalium norvegicum; | – – |
| nothos | G νόθος (nóthos) L nothus | false, wrong | bluefin notho killifish, Nothobranchius rachovii; New Zealand red beech, Nothofagus fusca | |
| noton | G νῶτον (nôton) | back | black-backed antshrike, Thamnophilus melanonotus | |
| notos | G νότος (nótos) | southern | fawn hopping mouse, Notomys cervinus | |
| novaeangliae | L | from New England | humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae; Sphaerophoria novaeangliae, a syrphid fly New England boneset, Eupatorium novae-angliae; New England aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | – |
| novaehollandiae | L | from New Holland (Australia) | emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae; New Holland rattlepod, Crotalaria novae-hollandiae; Sepia novaehollandiae, a cuttlefish | – |
| novaeseelandiae | L | from New Zealand | southern boobook, Ninox novaeseelandiae New Zealand scallop, Pecten novaezelandiae yellow-dabbled flounder, Brachypleura novaezeelandiae New Zealand horned orchid, Orthoceras novae-zeelandiae red bidibid, Acaena novae-zelandiae | – – – – |
| noveboracensis | L | from New York (Novum Eboracum) | margined carrion beetle, Oiceoptoma noveboracense; New York fern, Thelypteris noveboracensis; northern waterthrush, Seiurus noveboracensis | – |
| novem | L | nine | nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus; nine-spotted lady beetle, Coccinella novemnotata | |
| nucifera | L | bearing nuts | butter-nut of Guiana, Caryocar nuciferum; coconut, Cocos nucifera | |
| nutans | L | nodding | nodding madia, Harmonia nutans; nodding spurge, Euphorbia nutans |
O
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| obscurus | L | dark | dark bolo mouse, Necromys obscurus; dusky dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obscurus; obscure morning glory, Ipomoea obscura; rare clubmoss, Lycopodium obscurum | – – |
| obsoletus | L | obsolete, degenerate | Pantherophis obsoletus; Great Plains skink, Plestiodon obsoletus | – |
| occidentalis | L | western | eastern arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis; western clover, Trifolium occidentale | – |
| ocean | G ὠκεανός (ōkeanós) | ocean | oceanic gecko, Gehyra oceanica; Mediterranean tapeweed, Posidonia oceanica | – |
| octo-, octa- | G ὀκτω- ὀκτα- | eight | common octopus, Octopus vulgaris | |
| -odon, -odus | G ὀδών (odṓn), ὀδούς (odoús) | tooth | Dimetrodon, Rhizodus | |
| oeso- | G οἰσέμεν (oisémen), οἰσ- | carry | Oesophagostomum | |
| officinalis | L | for the workshop; medicinal | ginger, Zingiber officinale; rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis | – |
| oleraceus | L | used as a vegetable | cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, and so on, Brassica oleracea; common sowthistle, Sonchus oleraceus | – – |
| oleum, olearis | L | oil | Omphalotus olearius, jack o'lantern mushroom | |
| ommato- | G ὄμμᾰ (ómma), gen. ὄμμᾰτος (ómmatos) | eye | Ommatokoita, Ommatochila, Ommatospila | |
| ophis | G ὄφις (óphis) | serpent | Carphophis vermis, western wormsnake | |
| ophrys | G ὀφρύς (ophrús) | eyebrow | bee orchid, Ophrys; Central American bushmaster, Lachesis stenophrys Melanophrys, fly genus; Cyanophrys, butterfly genus | |
| -ophthalmus | G ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós) | eye | common rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus; Ariosoma ophidiophthalmus, an eel; Spanish ling, Molva macrophthalma; Hippopsicon macrophthalmum, a beetle; Cyprinion microphthalmum, a fish; gold-eye lichen, Teloschistes chrysophthalmus | |
| ops | G ὤψ (ṓps) | face, eye | Triceratops | |
| -opsis | G ὄψις (ópsis) | resembling | Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis | |
| orientalis | L | eastern | Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis | – |
| ortho- | G ὀρθός (orthós) | straight | Orthoptera | |
| oryza | G ὄρυζα (óruza) | rice | Asian rice, Oryza sativa; rice rats, Oryzomys | |
| ovatus | L | egg-shaped | shagbark hickory, Carya ovata | – – |
P
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pachy- | G παχύς (pakhús) | thick, stout | Pachycephalosaurus, Pachypodium | |
| palaemon | G Παλαίμων (Palaímōn) | Palaemon, a sea god whose name means "wrestler" | Palaemon, crustacean genus; chequered skipper, Carterocephalus palaemon Palaemonias, Palaemonella and Palaemonetes, shrimp genera | |
| pallidus | L | pale | Dalmatian iris, Iris pallida | – – |
| palustris | L paluster | of the marsh | mugger crocodile, Crocodylus palustris; marsh marigold, Caltha palustris; Sphagnurus paluster, mushroom; | – – – |
| pan- panto- | G πᾶν (pân) | all | Pancratium (a flower); Pangaea | |
| paradoxus | L, from G παράδοξος (parádoxos) | contrary to expectation, strange, uncharacteristic | Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus, puzzle sunflower, Helianthus paradoxus ghost mantis, Phyllocrania paradoxa, paradoxical frog, Pseudis paradoxa green-banded broodsac, Leucochloridium paradoxum, few-flowered garlic, Allium paradoxum | – – |
| parilis | L | equal | Syngrapha parilis, a moth; Metasphenisca parilis, a fruit fly Nephroma parile, a fungus; Malmesbury pincushion, Leucospermum parile | – |
| parviflorus | L | small-flowered | small-flowered mallow, Malva parviflora; thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus | – – |
| parvifolius | L | small-leaved | Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia; littleleaf ceanothus, Ceanothus parvifolius; small-leaved lomatium, Lomatium parvifolium | – – |
| parvus | L | small | dwarf catshark, Asymbolus parvus; mountain pygmy possum, Burramys parvus; small onion, Allium parvum | – |
| pecten | L | comb | Venus comb murex, Murex pecten | |
| ped | L pēs | foot | showy lady slipper, Cypripedium reginae | |
| pelagicus | L, G πελαγικός | of the open sea | pelagic cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus | – – |
| penn- | L penna | feather, wing | Darwin's rhea, Rhea pennata; great auk, Pinguinus impennis | |
| penta- | G πέντε (pénte) | five | five-fingered skink, Chalcides pentadactylus | |
| pes-caprae | Lpēs, Lcaprae | goat's foot | Beach morning glory, Ipomoea pes-caprae | |
| petro- | G πέτρα (pétra), L petra | rock, stone | Roberts's flat-headed bat, Sauromys petrophilus; rock daisy, Erigeron petrophilus | |
| phago- | G ἔφαγον | eat | African scat (fish), Scatophagus tetracanthus; Icthyophaga, the ("fish-eating") sea eagle | |
| phalloides | G | like a phallus | Amanita phalloides, the death cap, a poisonous basidiomycete fungus species | |
| phenolicus | L | able to degrade phenol | Pseudoalteromonas phenolica | – – |
| philippinensis | L | from the Philippines | katmon tree, Dillenia philippinensis; Philippine cobra, Naja philippinensis | |
| pholis | G φολῐ́ς (pholís) | horny scale | bluespotted grouper, Cephalopholis argus | |
| phyllo- | G φύλλον (phúllon) | leaf | garden lupin, Lupinus polyphyllus | |
| physi- | G φύσις (phúsis) | nature | Symphysia ("naturally joined") (a plant) | |
| phyto- | G φυτόν (phutón) | plant | Astrophytum, Astrophytum myriostigma (a cactus); epiphyte | |
| pictus | L | painted | Pimelodus pictus, a catfish; painted skipper, Hesperilla picta; painted tunicate, Clavelina picta; Abutilon pictum, a shrub | – – |
| platy- | G πλατύς (platús) | flat and broad | flathead trout, Salmo platycephalus; platypus | |
| pleio- | G | larger, greater in quantity | Pleiogynium timoriense, Burdekin plum, sweet plum, tulip plum; pleiotropy, (a gene) exhibiting multiple phenotypic expression | |
| plicatilis | L | flexible, pliable | fan-aloe, Kumara plicatilis; lobed river mullet, Cestraeus plicatilis Dendrobium plicatile, an orchid; Cormohipparion plicatile, an extinct horse | – |
| plumosum | L | feathered | big tarweed, Blepharizonia plumosa; buzzer midge, Chironomus plumosus | – – |
| pod- | G πούς (poús) | foot, leg, stem | red-footed spikesedge, Eleocharis erythropoda; Arthropoda; Gastropoda | |
| poliocephalus | G | grey-headed | ashy-headed goose, Chloephaga poliocephala; grey-crowned flatbill, Tolmomyias poliocephalus; grey-headed flying fox, Pteropus poliocephalus; grey-headed goshawk, Accipiter poliocephalus; hoary-headed grebe, Poliocephalus poliocephalus; white-headed langur, Trachypithecus poliocephalus; yellow-lored tody-flycatcher, Todirostrum poliocephalum | – – |
| poly- | G πολύς (polús) | many, much | common knotgrass, Polygonum aviculare | |
| pomum | L | fruit | apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella; apple murex, Phyllonotus pomum; codling moth, Cydia pomonella; emu apple, Kunzea pomifera; Osage orange, Maclura pomifera | – – – |
| ponticus | G Πόντος (Póntos) | Pontic; from Pontus, Turkey | Black Sea field mouse, Apodemus ponticus; Pontic adder, Vipera pontica; Pontic rhododendron, Rhododendron ponticum; Roman wormwood, Artemisia pontica | – – |
| praecox | L | early | early onion, Allium praecox; neon rainbow, Melanotaenia praecox; wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox | |
| praestans | L | excelling | Kamchatka bilberry, Vaccinium praestans; goliath webcap mushroom, Cortinarius praestans; (a butterfly), Ypthima praestans; (a ground beetle), Lesticus praestans; Tulipa praestans | |
| praeustus | L | burned at the end, scorched, withered | brownback trevally, Carangoides praeustus; Adetus praeustus, a beetle Serixia praeusta, a beetle; Tricholauxania praeusta, a fly; Trogoxylon praeustum, a beetle | – – |
| prātum | L | meadow | Inyo meadow lupine, Lupinus pratensis; meadow foxtail, Alopecurus pratensis; meadow sedge, Carex praticola; meadow waxcap, Cuphophyllus pratensis | – – |
| princeps | L | first, leader, principal, princely | Korean wormwood, Artemisia princeps; princely spiny-tailed lizard, Uromastyx princeps; American pika, Ochotona princeps | |
| proto- | G πρῶτος (prôtos) | first | Protozoa | |
| pruinosus | L | pruinose, "frosted", covered in white granules | Tibetan blue bear, Ursus arctos pruinosus; frosted myotis, Myotis pruinosus fuzzywuzzy airplant, Tillandsia pruinosa; frosted hawthorn, Crataegus pruinosa crimson-tailed marsh hawk, Orthetrum pruinosum; dotted blue-eyed grass, Sisyrinchium pruinosum | – – |
| prunicolor | L | plum-colored | plum-colored worm lizard, Amphisbaena prunicolor | |
| pruriens | L | itching | velvet bean, Mucuna pruriens | |
| pseudo- | L G ψευδής (pseudḗs) | false or fake | Brazilian false rice rat, Pseudoryzomys simplex; pastel flower, Pseuderanthemum variabile | |
| psych- | G ψυχή (psychḗ) | mind, soul | psychedelic | |
| psychrophilus | G ψυχρός (psukhrós) | cold-loving | bacterial rod, Flavobacterium psychrophilum; bacterium, Geobacter psychrophilus; whip-lash squid, Mastigoteuthis psychrophila | – – |
| pterus, -pter | G πτερόν (pterón) | wing, feather | white-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus; Pteranodon (winged toothless); Pterodactylus (winged finger); Pteridophyta; Diptera; Coleoptera | |
| ptyo- | G πτύον (ptyon) | fan | fan-fingered geckos, Ptyodactylus; crag martin, Ptyonoprogne | |
| puberulus | L | having short, soft hairs | Hydroporus puberulus, a diving beetle; Leptomyrmex puberulus, an ant mountain bellwort, Uvularia puberula; hairy melicope, Melicope puberula plains flax, Linum puberulum; red berry stick plant, Teucrium puberulum | – – |
| pubescens | L | downy | downy oak, Quercus pubescens | |
| pugil | L pugil | a boxer | fighting conch, Strombus pugilis | |
| pulchellus | L | pretty little | beautiful sunbird, Cinnyris pulchella; green pygmy goose, Nettapus pulchellus | – – |
| pumilus | L | dwarf | Cape dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion pumilum; dwarf cuckoo, Coccycua pumila; dwarf mouse-ear, Cerastium pumilum; eastern forest bat, Vespadelus pumilus; shaggy fleabane, Erigeron pumilus; Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila | – – |
| punctatus | L | spotted, marked with punctures | dotted thyme-moss, Rhizomnium punctatum; thirteen-spotted lady beetle, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata | – – |
| pungens | L pungens | pungent | blue spruce, Picea pungens; pungent slippery jack, Suillus pungens | |
| purpurascens | L | somewhat purple | veiled purple hygrophorus, Hygrophorus purpurascens | |
| purpureus | L purpureus | purple | purple amole, Chlorogalum purpureum; purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea; purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus | – – |
| pygmaeus | L, from the Pygmaeī | pygmy, dwarf | Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus; pygmy three-toed sloth, Bradypus pygmaeus; Western Greece goby, Economidichthys pygmaeus; western pygmy marmoset, Cebuella pygmaea; smooth spike-primrose, Epilobium pygmaeum; alpine glacier poppy, Papaver pygmaeum | – – |
| pygargus | G πῡ́γᾰργος (pū́gargos) | white-rumped | Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus | |
| pygo- | G πυγή (pugḗ) | tail, rump | chinstrap penguin, Pygoscelis antarcticus |
Q
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| quadri- | L quattuor | four, square | burr grass, Festuca quadriflora (four-flowered); four-coloured bushshrike, Telophorus quadricolor; fourspot butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus; whorled loosestrife, Lysimachia quadrifolia (four-leaved) |
R
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| radix | L | root or radish | taproot fleabane, Erigeron radicatus | – – – |
| rāmus | L | branch | branched draba, Draba ramosissima; branched murex, Chicoreus ramosus | – – |
| regalis | L | royal | Synalpheus regalis; regal moth, Citheronia regalis; royal lily, Lilium regale | – |
| repandus | L repandus | curved upwards, turned up | dragon's tongue, Hemigraphis repanda; hedgehog mushroom, Hydnum repandum; Peruvian apple cactus, Cereus repandus | – – |
| repens | L | creeping, crawling (rēpēns) | creeping buttercup, Ranunculus repens | |
| repens | L | unexpected (rĕpēns) | white clover, Trifolium repens | |
| reptans, rept- | L | creeping, crawling | bugle, Ajuga reptans; creeping cinquefoil, Potentilla reptans; Reptilia | |
| reticulata | L | reticulated (having the form of a grid or network) | mandarin orange, Citrus reticulata | – – |
| rhino- | G ῥίς (rhís) | nose | orange leaf-nosed bat, Rhinonicteris aurantia; rhinoceros | |
| rhiza | G ῥίζα (rhíza) | root | bushy seedbox, Ludwigia helminthorrhiza; Rhizobium (nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria) | |
| rhodo- | G ῥόδον (rhódon) | rose, rose-colored | Rhododendron Butter Cap, Rhodocollybia butyracea | |
| rhynchos | G ῥύγχος (rhúnkhos) | beak or snout | mallard, Anas platyrhynchos; Rhamphorhynchus | |
| rhytis | G ῥῠτίς (rhutís) | wrinkled, folded | shaggy moss, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus; Rhytidodon (syn. Rutiodon) | |
| rigidus | L | rigid, stiff | big galleta, Hilaria rigida | – – |
| rossicus | L | from Russia | Pliosaurus rossicus | |
| rostr- | L rōstrum | beak, bill, snout | common crossbill, Loxia curvirostra | |
| rostralis | L | with a beak | buttoned snout moth, Hypena rostralis | – |
| rostratus | L rōstrātus | having a beak | beaked sedge, Carex rostrata; beaked yucca, Yucca rostrata; Caribbean sharp-nose puffer, Canthigaster rostrata; longnose surgeonfish, Zebrasoma rostratum | – – |
| ruber, rubr- | L ruber | red | red maple, Acer rubrum; red valerian, Centranthus ruber; ruby bolete, Hortiboletus rubellus; summer tanager, Piranga rubra | – – – – |
| ruder- | L rūdus, rūderis | rubbish | Cannabis ruderalis; Porophyllum ruderale; ruderal bumblebee, Bombus ruderatus | – – |
| rudis, rud- | L | rough, rude | coarse chameleon, Trioceros rudis; pied kingfisher Ceryle rudis; rough gecko, Naultinus rudis; rough mabuya, Eutropis rudis | – |
| rufus, ruf- | L | red, reddish | red wolf, Canis rufus; rufous rubber cup, Galiella rufa | – – – |
| rupestris | L | living on cliffs or rocks | Eurasian crag martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris; rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris rock campion, Atocion rupestre; alpine tea-tree, Leptospermum rupestre | – |
| rupicola | L | cliff dweller | Diplacus rupicola, Death Valley monkeyflower; Narcissus rupicola; Tabernaemontana rupicola | |
| russus | L | reddish | Lophocampa russus, a moth; Toxitiades russus, a beetle; Schistura russa, a stone loach; Steccherinum russum, a fungus | – – |
| russulus | L | little reddish one | greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula; Mimeresia russulus, a butterfly; pinkmottle woodwax, Hygrophorus russula; Bryum russulum, a moss | – – |
S
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sanctus | L | sacred | See sanctus (species) | |
| sanguis | L | blood | bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis | |
| sapiens | L | wise | recent subspecies of humans: Homo sapiens sapiens ("wise wise man") | |
| saponaria | L | soapy | soapworts (Saponaria spp.), soapbark (Quillaja saponaria), Ramaria flavosaponaria | |
| sativus | L | sown, cultivated | oat, Avena sativa; pea, Pisum sativum; rice, Oryza sativa | – – |
| saura, -saur | G σαῦρος (saûros) | lizard, reptile | lancetfish, Alepisaurus; Maiasaura (dinosaur) | |
| saxum | L | rock | saxicolous, 'growing on rocks/stones'; common rock thrush, Monticola saxatilis; Saxicola, stonechats; Saxifraga, rockfoils; Saxifragaceae, herbaceous plant family | |
| scriptus | L | written, scribbled, scrawled | Cape bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus; scrawled filefish, Aluterus scriptus pond slider, Trachemys scripta; long hoverfly, Sphaerophoria scripta; Grammatophyllum scriptum, an orchid; Steindachneridion scriptum, a catfish | – – |
| sculptus | L | sculpted | reed-stemmed orchid, Epidendrum sculptum; sculpted lanternshark, Etmopterus sculptus; sculpted puffball, Calvatia sculpta | – – |
| septem | L | seven | seven-spot ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata | |
| septentrionalis | L | Northern Hemisphere (septentrional, "of the seven plough-oxen", a reference to The Plough) | northern rockling, Ciliata septentrionalis northern spleenwort, Asplenium septentrionale | – |
| setosus | L | bristly or shaggy | hairy Atlantic spiny rat, Trinomys setosus; arctic iris Iris setosa, Diadema setosum | – – |
| sidero- | G σίδηρος (sídēros) | iron | Siderostigma, Sideroxylon; lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros | |
| silvestris, sylvestris silvaticus | L | from woodland or forest; wild | wildcat, Felis silvestris; snowdrop anemone, Anemone sylvestris; Wood frog, Lithobates sylvaticus | , – , – , |
| similis | L | similar | Callinectes similis | – |
| simplex | L | simple | see List of species named simplex | |
| sinensis | L | from China | tea, Camellia sinensis | – |
| smaragdinus | G σμάραγδος (smáragdos) | emerald | green grass lizard, Takydromus smaragdinus; Carabus smaragdinus, a beetle Smaragdina, beetle genus; Asian weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina Epidendrum smaragdinum, an orchid; Smaragdia, snail genus | – – – |
| speciosus | L | showy | queen's crape-myrtle, Lagerstroemia speciosa; Japanese lily, Lilium speciosum | – – |
| sperma | G σπέρμα (spérma) | seed | African daisies, Osteospermum | |
| sphen-, spheno- | G σφήν (sphḗn) | wedge | tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus | |
| squamatus | L | with scales | scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus, scaled woodcreeper, Lepidocolaptes squamatus | |
| stellatus | L | starry | carrageenan moss, Mastocarpus stellatus; Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata autumn onion, Allium stellatum | – – |
| stichus, sticticus | G στίχος (stíkhos) | line, file | Ochlerotatus sticticus, a mosquito; western erete, Eretes sticticus Acalolepta stictica, a beetle; Punctelia stictica, a lichenTrypetisoma sticticum, a fly;Diorygma sticticum, a lichen Toothfish, Dissostichus | – – |
| stoma | G στόμα (stóma) | mouth, opening | stomate, Gnathostomata | |
| striatus | L | striped | African striped skink, Trachylepis striata; striated heron, Butorides striatus; striped Barbados lily, Hippeastrum striatum | – – |
| strictus | L | straight, narrow, erect | chocolate lily, Dichopogon strictus; Oxalis stricta; Babiana stricta; Nardus stricta, bog haircap moss, Polytrichum strictum | – – |
| strix, strig- | L or G | owl | kākāpō or owl parrot, Strigops habroptilus; tawny frogmouth, Podargus strigoides; tawny owl, Strix aluco | |
| suber | L | cork | cork oak, Quercus suber | |
| suchos, -suchus | G σοῦχος (soûkhos) | crocodile (from Egyptian) | Eusuchia; Koolasuchus | |
| sulcatus | L | furrowed | furrowed wakerobin, Trillium sulcatum; grooved helmet-orchid, Nematoceras sulcatum | – – |
| symbio | G συμβίωσις (sumbíōsis) | symbiosis | Symbiodinium; Symbiontida | |
| syriacus | L | Syrian | common milkweed, Asclepias syriacus | – – |
T
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| taenia | G ταινία (tainía) | ribbon, tape | pork tapeworm, Taenia solium | |
| tardus, tardi- | L | slow, late | great bustard, Otis tarda; Chisos Mountains oak, Quercus tardifolia | |
| tele-, tel- | G τῆλε (têle) | far, distant | New South Wales waratah, Telopea speciosissima | |
| tenax | L | clinging, tenacious | bear grass, Xerophyllum tenax; tough bully, Sideroxylon tenax; tough-leaved iris, Iris tenax | |
| tenuis | L | thin, slender, fine | slender rush, Juncus tenuis; plealeaf knotweed, Polygonum tenue | – |
| terrestris, terrestre | L | terrestrial | large earth bumblebee, Bombus terrestris bent orchid, Geodorum terrestre | – |
| tetra- | G τετρα- | four | four-leaved allseed, Polycarpon tetraphyllum; Tetrapoda | |
| therium, ther- | G θηρίον (thēríon), θήρ (thḗr) | beast, wild animal | giant ground sloth, Megatherium americanum; stinkpot turtle, Sternotherus odoratus; gelada, Theropithecus gelada | |
| timidus | L | shy, timid | Mountain hare, Lepus timidus; Rhene timidus, a jumping spider; dwarf three-toed slider, Lerista timida; Elysia timida, a sea slug; Zodarion timidum, an ant spider | – – |
| tinctorius | L | for dyeing | woad, Isatis tinctoria | – – |
| tomentosus | L | furry | bristle-tail filefish, Acreichthys tomentosus; fuzzy mock-orange, Philadelphus tomentosus; woollyleaf ceanothus, Ceanothus tomentosus | – – |
| tortus | L | twisted | Didymoceras tortus, an extinct ammonite corkscrew beggarticks, Bidens torta; Fusiturris torta, a sea snail Bulbophyllum tortum, an orchid; Chloroleucon tortum, a plant | – – |
| trachy- | G τραχύς (trachys) | rough | Trachyscorpia, fish genus; Trachyaretaon, insect genus | |
| tri-, tris- | L tri-, G τρι- (tri-) | three | black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla; three-cornered garlic, Allium triquetrum | |
| tricho-, -thrix | G θρίξ (thríx), τριχ- (trikh-) | hair | cloud ear fungus, Auricularia polytricha | |
| tripartitus | L | three-part | threepart violet, Viola tripartita; threetip sagebrush, Artemisia tripartita | – |
| tristis | L | sad, disagreeable, bitter, foul | ever-flowering gladiolus, Gladiolus tristis American goldfinch, Carduelis tristis Mupli beetle, Luprops tristis | |
| trivialis | L | commonplace, ordinary | tree pipit, Anthus trivialis; southern dewberry, Rubus trivialis; northern water plantain, Alisma triviale; Bulbophyllum triviale, an orchid | – |
| troglodytes | L G τρωγλοδύτης (trōglodútēs) | cave-dweller | chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes; wren, Troglodytes troglodytes | |
| tropicalis | L | tropical | Candida tropicalis (yeast); Rostraureum tropicale (fungus) | – |
| truncatus | L | truncated, foreshortened | common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus; pink fairy armadillo, Chlamyphorus truncatus; rattlesnake flower, Brazoria truncata; false Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera truncata; Shantung maple, Acer truncatum; truncate leek orchid, Prasophyllum truncatum | – – |
| trygon | G τρῡγών (trygōn) | stingray turtledove | Fontitrygon, Hemitrygon, Trygonoptera, all ray genera Geotrygon and Trugon, dove genera | – – |
| typhlo- | G τυφλός (typhlós) | blind | Typhlobarbus nudiventris, fish species; Typhlochactidae, scorpion family | |
| tyranno- | G τύραννος (túrannos) | tyrant, tyrannical | Tyrannosaurus rex; Tyrannodoris; Tyrannoneustes; Tyrannotitan; |
U
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ulmus | L | elm | American elm, Ulmus americana; elmleaf goldenrod, Solidago ulmifolia; Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila; Ulmus | |
| ulos | G οὖλος (oûlos) | woolly | Uloborus; Ulotrichi; Ulotrichopus | |
| unus | L | one | Monotropa uniflora; unicolor woolly lemur, Avahi unicolor | |
| ura | G οὐρά (ourá) | of the tail | mourning dove, Zenaida macroura; coral snake, Micrurus corallinus |
V
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vaginalis | L | sheathed, vaginal | Alyce clover, Gardnerella vaginalis | |
| variabilis | L | variable | grey bunting, Emberiza variabilis | – |
| varians | L | varying (usually in color) | Chameleon shrimp, Hippolyte varians Chelidonura varians; Chelidonura varians | |
| variegatus | L | variegated | variegated laughingthrush, Garrulax variegatus; croton, Codiaeum variegatum | – – |
| varius | L | different, variegated, variable | lace monitor, Varanus varius; yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius barred owl, Strix varia; purple crown vetch, Securigera varia variable triplefin, Forsterygion varium; grass cerith, Bittiolum varium | – – |
| velox, velocis | L | swift | swift fox, Vulpes velox; Velociraptor | |
| ventralis | L | ventral, of the belly | Hispaniolan parrot, Amazona ventralis; southern dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion ventrale | – |
| venustus | L | beautiful | giraffe hap, Nimbochromis venustus; beautiful pit viper, Trimeresurus venustus flamevine, Pyrostegia venusta; orchard spider, Leucauge venusta Himalayan maidenhair, Adiantum venustum; magnificent leafy moss, Plagiomnium venustum | – – |
| vernicosa | L | varnished | varnished maxillaria, Maxillaria vernicosa | – – |
| vernus, vernalis | L | spring (season) | spring gentian, Gentiana verna; spring pheasant's eye, Adonis vernalis; spring sneezeweed, Helenium vernale | – |
| verrucosus | L | rough-skinned | Javan warty pig, Sus verrucosus; reef stonefish, Synanceia verrucosa | – – |
| versicolor | L | many-colored | varied honeyeater, Lichenostomus versicolor; Vietnam mouse-deer, Tragulus versicolor | |
| verticillata | L | whorled | spaghetti bryozoan, Amathia verticillata; whorled plectranthus, Plectranthus verticillatus | – – |
| verus | L | true, genuine | true aloe, Aloe vera; lady's bedstraw, Galium verum | – |
| victoriae | L | Victorian | Victoria's bar, Cigaritis victoriae | |
| villosus | L | hairy, shaggy | hairy nightshade, Solanum villosum; hairy stonecrop, Sedum villosum; hairy vetch, Vicia villosa; hairy woodpecker, Picoides villosus; shaggy hawkweed, Hieracium villosum; villous deadly carrot, Thapsia villosa | – – |
| virginiana | L | Virginia | Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana; Rosa virginiana, the Virginia rose | – |
| viridis | L | green | frog orchid, Coeloglossum viride; green alder, Alnus viridis; green wrasse, Labrus viridis | – |
| virosus | L | poisonous | cowbane, Cicuta virosa; poisonous lettuce, Lactuca virosa | – |
| viticola (vitis-cola) | L | grape vine inhabitant or cultivator | Phomopsis viticola; Plasmopara viticola; Schizomyia viticola | |
| volans | L | flying | flying dragon, Draco volans; southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans | |
| vulgaris | L | common | common octopus, Octopus vulgaris; common privet, Ligustrum vulgare | – |
X–Z
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| xanthos | G ξανθός | yellow | yellow staining mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus | |
| zebratus | L | cross-striped | Kolombatovic's goby, Chromogobius zebratus | |
| zoster | G ζωστήρ (zōstḗr) | belt, girdle | white-eyes, Zosterops; Zosterophyllum; Zosterocarpus abyssicola | |
| zygos | G ζυγός | joined | Zygophyllum; Zygoptera |
See also
- Glossary of scientific naming
- List of commonly used taxonomic affixes
- List of descriptive plant species epithets (A–H)
- List of descriptive plant species epithets (I–Z)
- List of Greek and Latin roots in English
- List of Latin place names used as specific names
- List of Latin words with English derivatives
- List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes
- List of taxa named by anagrams
External links
- 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine