1	Latin Names Ornithological Study DVOC (http://www.dvoc.org) Presented by Scott Fraser, http://fraser.blogs.com September 7, Anno Domini 2006 (All photos by Scott Fraser except where noted)
2	Where Science meets Birds
3	Latin Names Also known as “Scientific Names” or “Binomial Names” Vernacular names (common, non-scientific) are not always specific enough Allow a species to be identified as “that particular one” Example… The Winter Wren
4	Wren!!! Picture a “Yankee” birding in England with some local birding blokes The Blokes: “Look, a Wren!” Yankee: “Wait a second… that’s a bloody Winter Wren!” Same species – different “common” names
5	"Picture a “Yankee”" Picture a “Yankee” birding in England with some local birding blokes The Blokes: “Look, a Wren!” Yankee: “Wait a second… that’s a bloody Winter Wren!” Same species – different “common” names
6	"Picture a “Yankee”" Picture a “Yankee” birding in England with some local birding blokes The Blokes: “Look, a Wren!” Yankee: “Wait a second… that’s a bloody Winter Wren!” Same species – different “common” names
7	What have they done for me lately? Every species can be unambiguously identified with a two word name Latin is universal, therefore the names can be used worldwide Rules followed in the binomial naming system encourage “stability” Lugging the Oxford Latin Dictionary around with you when birding is great exercise
8	What have they done for me lately? Every species can be unambiguously identified with a two word name Latin is universal, therefore the names can be used worldwide Rules followed in the binomial naming system encourage “stability” Lugging the Oxford Latin Dictionary around with you when birding is great exercise
9	What is Latin anyways? Language of the Roman Republic and Empire Later used by scholars and the Catholic Church 60% of our English words are based directly or indirectly on Latin
10	The “Binomial System” Started by Swedish naturalist Carl von Linné, aka: Carl Linnaeus Carolus Linnaeus Carl von Linné Carl Linné
11	Systema Naturae 1^st edition published in 1735 and only 13 pages long Title (translated): “System of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera and species, with [generic] characters, [specific] differences, synonyms, places” The 10th edition, published in 1758, marks the official start of all Latin Names used today. Names published prior to January 1, 1758 are bogus.
12	Animals, Plants, and… Minerals Linnaeus broke the world’s species into Animal, Plant, and “Mineral” Kingdoms Kingdom were made up of Classes Classes were made up of Orders Orders were split into Genera (singular for this is genus) Genera were divided into species (singular for this is species) Sometimes he allowed an unnamed rank of taxa at a lower level (these became “varieties” in the plant Kingdom) Subdivisions that have been added since then: Phyla (singular: phylum) Superclasses Superorders Infarorders Families Superfamilies Tribes Additional subdivisions used for species rich categories, for example Beetles use Infarorders
13	Animal Kingdom, First Edition
14	Animal Kingdom, First Edition
15	Animal Kingdom, First Edition
16	King Phil ate Raw Fish Taxon divisions: Domain Kingdom Phylum (animals or plants) or Division (plants) Class Order Family Genus Species Subspecies
17	Binomial Names Binomial nomenclature is the formal way of identifying species Named species have a two part name, with a genus and species descriptor First is the “generic” name (based on the Latin word genus, meaning birth or origin) A “genus” is made up of closely related animals (or plants) The second name is the “specific”, which names the species in that group Generic names should be nouns, and the specific an adjective
18	Scientific Naming Etiquette The basic rules to followed today: Italicize (or underline if handwritten) Genus is always capitalized Species is always lower case, even when based on a name For hard core science, the name is followed by the abbreviated name of the bloke who named it, and sometimes even the year If next to a common name, the scientific name is always in parenthesis Spell it out in full first, then abbreviate the genus if repeated Popular exceptions: E. coli and T. Rex Use the abbreviation “sp.” or “spec.” if the species is unknown Example: The Four Loons are known to struggle with Accipter sp. Use “cf.” if the identification is shaky Did you see the wings on that woodpecker? Example: The Lagerhead Shrikes checklist included Campephilus cf. principalis
19	Aves Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Aves 27 taxa called orders ending in “-iformes” 161 familes below those orders ending in “-idae” Some further divisions into subfamilies ending in “-inae”
20	Example: Chaffinch Phylum: Chordata (Greek and Latin roots, referring to notochord present in all animals of this phylum) Subphylum: Vertebrata (Latin roots, meaning to have a jointed back. In this taxa the notochord develops into the spine.) Class: Aves (Latin for, um, BIRD.) Order: Passeriformes (Passer is Latin for a sparrow or small bird) Family: Fringillidae (Fringilla is Latin for a small bird) Genus: Fringilla Species: F. coelebs (Caelebs is Latin for being unmarried. Chaffinch’s sometimes gather in large unisex flocks, and the belief was that the females had all flown south leaving the males.) Hence the Latin name Fringilla coelebs: “A small bachelor bird”
21	Quiz Time! We use them all the time… but how often do you know of the reason for a name, or even just the translation to the root Latin (or Greek) words? DVOC’ers love quizzes, so let’s get started!
22	Ensifera ensifera Carrying or wearing a sword. Only species of bird to have a bill longer than the rest of its body.
23	Ensifera ensifera Carrying or wearing a sword. Only species of bird to have a bill longer than the rest of its body. Sword-billed Hummingbird
24	Ensifera ensifera Carrying or wearing a sword. Only species of bird to have a bill longer than the rest of its body. Sword-billed Hummingbird
25	Chlidonias niger Misspelling of Greek word for swallow (khelidonios) Reference to swallow-like wings and tail Niger is Latin for black
26	Chlidonias niger Misspelling of Greek word for swallow (khelidonios) Reference to swallow-like wings and tail Niger is Latin for black Black Tern
27	Chlidonias niger Misspelling of Greek word for swallow (khelidonios) Reference to swallow-like wings and tail Niger is Latin for black Black Tern
28	Archilochus colubris Archilochus was a Greek poet of 700 B.C. Colubra is Latin for a snake Colubrifer means snake-bearing, as in snake-haired like a hydra Colibri mean hummingbird in some other languages
29	Archilochus colubris Archilochus was a Greek poet of 700 B.C. Colubra is Latin for a snake Colubrifer means snake-bearing, as in snake-haired like a hydra Colibri mean hummingbird in some other languages Ruby-throated Hummingbird I have NO idea!
30	Archilochus colubris Archilochus was a Greek poet of 700 B.C. Colubra is Latin for a snake Colubrifer means snake-bearing, as in snake-haired like a hydra Colibri mean hummingbird in some other languages Ruby-throated Hummingbird I have NO idea!
31	Picoides pubescens Picus was a son of Saturn, who was changed by Circe into a bird Picus is Latin for woodpecker pubes means the age or condition of puberty
32	Picoides pubescens Picus was a son of Saturn, who was changed by Circe into a bird Picus is Latin for woodpecker pubes means the age or condition of puberty Downy woodpecker
33	Picoides pubescens Picus was a son of Saturn, who was changed by Circe into a bird Picus is Latin for woodpecker pubes means the age or condition of puberty Downy woodpecker
34	Vermivora pinus Vermis is Latin for a worm Vora is Latin for “I devour” Pinus is Latin for a pine Family Parulidae Parula is based on parus, the Latin name for a titmouse “-ulus” is the Latin diminutive suffix
35	Vermivora pinus Vermis is Latin for a worm Vora is Latin for “I devour” Pinus is Latin for a pine Family Parulidae Parula is based on parus, the Latin name for a titmouse “-ulus” is the Latin diminutive suffix Blue-winged Warbler
36	Vermivora pinus Vermis is Latin for a worm Vora is Latin for “I devour” Pinus is Latin for a pine Family Parulidae Parula is based on parus, the Latin name for a titmouse “-ulus” is the Latin diminutive suffix Blue-winged Warbler
37	Tachycineta bicolor takhus is Greek for fast and swift kineo is Greek for “I move” kinetes is Greek for “a mover” Bicolor is Latin for “of two colors” Family Hirundinidae Hirundo is Latin for a swallow
38	Tachycineta bicolor takhus is Greek for fast and swift kineo is Greek for “I move” kinetes is Greek for “a mover” Bicolor is Latin for “of two colors” Family Hirundinidae Hirundo is Latin for a swallow Tree Swallow
39	Tachycineta bicolor takhus is Greek for fast and swift kineo is Greek for “I move” kinetes is Greek for “a mover” Bicolor is Latin for “of two colors” Family Hirundinidae Hirundo is Latin for a swallow Tree Swallow
40	Polioptila caerulea Polios is Greek for hoary or grey, ptilon is Greek for a feather or wing Caeruleatus means colored with blue Caeruleum means Azurite or a kind of blue glass Caeruleus is blue like the sky or greenish-blue like the sea Order Passeriformes Passer is Latin for a sparrow or small bird Forma is Latin for form or shape Family Sylviidae Silva is Latin for a wood or forest
41	Polioptila caerulea Polios is Greek for hoary or grey, ptilon is Greek for a feather or wing Caeruleatus means colored with blue Caeruleum means Azurite or a kind of blue glass Caeruleus is blue like the sky or greenish-blue like the sea Order Passeriformes Passer is Latin for a sparrow or small bird Forma is Latin for form or shape Family Sylviidae Silva is Latin for a wood or forest Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
42	Polioptila caerulea Polios is Greek for hoary or grey, ptilon is Greek for a feather or wing Caeruleatus means colored with blue Caeruleum means Azurite or a kind of blue glass Caeruleus is blue like the sky or greenish-blue like the sea Order Passeriformes Passer is Latin for a sparrow or small bird Forma is Latin for form or shape Family Sylviidae Silva is Latin for a wood or forest Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
43	Troglodytes aedon Trogle is Greek for a hole or hollow Dutes is Greek for a burrower Trogludutes is Greek for one who creeps into holes Aedon is Greek for a songstress King Friday (of Mister Roger’s Neighborhood fame) had two birds – one named Troglodytes and one named Aedon Family TROGLODYTIDAE Order PASSERIFORMES
44	Troglodytes aedon Trogle is Greek for a hole or hollow Dutes is Greek for a burrower Trogludutes is Greek for one who creeps into holes Aedon is Greek for a songstress King Friday (of Mister Roger’s Neighborhood fame) had two birds – one named Troglodytes and one named Aedon Family TROGLODYTIDAE Order PASSERIFORMES House Wren
45	Troglodytes aedon Trogle is Greek for a hole or hollow Dutes is Greek for a burrower Trogludutes is Greek for one who creeps into holes Aedon is Greek for a songstress King Friday (of Mister Roger’s Neighborhood fame) had two birds – one named Troglodytes and one named Aedon Family TROGLODYTIDAE Order PASSERIFORMES House Wren
46	Poecile atricapilla Poicile is Greek for the frescoed porch or gallery in Athens where Zeno taught. Ater is Latin for black, and capillus is Latin for the hair on man’s head Belongs in a separate genus according to the AOU Regarded as a subgenus under Parus by some
47	Poecile atricapilla Poicile is Greek for the frescoed porch or gallery in Athens where Zeno taught. Ater is Latin for black, and capillus is Latin for the hair on man’s head Belongs in a separate genus according to the AOU Regarded as a subgenus under Parus by some Black-capped chickadee
48	Poecile atricapilla Poicile is Greek for the frescoed porch or gallery in Athens where Zeno taught. Ater is Latin for black, and capillus is Latin for the hair on man’s head Belongs in a separate genus according to the AOU Regarded as a subgenus under Parus by some Black-capped chickadee
49	Gavia immer Gavia is Latin for a bird Order Gaviiformes Family Gaviidae (4 species) Immergo is Latin for dipping or plunging into a liquid, to immerse, to sink, to plunge
50	Gavia immer Gavia is Latin for a bird Order Gaviiformes Family Gaviidae (4 species) Immergo is Latin for dipping or plunging into a liquid, to immerse, to sink, to plunge Common Loon
51	Gavia immer Gavia is Latin for a bird Order Gaviiformes Family Gaviidae (4 species) Immergo is Latin for dipping or plunging into a liquid, to immerse, to sink, to plunge
52	Aegolius acadicus Aigolios is Greek for a night bird of prey Acadicus = acadian, a French named colonial territory in Northeastern America including Quebec, the Maritime Provinces, and New England
53	Aegolius acadicus Aigolios is Greek for a night bird of prey Acadicus = acadian, a French named colonial territory in Northeastern America including Quebec, the Maritime Provinces, and New England Northern Saw-whet Owl
54	Aegolius acadicus Aigolios is Greek for a night bird of prey Acadicus = acadian, a French named colonial territory in Northeastern America including Quebec, the Maritime Provinces, and New England Northern Saw-whet Owl
55	Others of interest… Sturnella neglecta Neglectus is Latin for neglect or neglecting Sturnus is Latin for a Starling This widespread and common bird was “neglected” for almost 100 years here in North America before being split in the 1800’s Pinicola enucleator Pinus is Latin for pine-tree Colo is Latin for “inhabit” Enucleo is Latin for “I take out the kernel” Dacelo gigas Gigas is Latin for giant Dacelo is an anagram of alcedo Alcedo is Latin for a Kingfisher Polygonia interrogationis Polygonus is Latin for polygonal Interrogatio is Latin for a question, an inquiry Trick question!
56	Others of interest… Sturnella neglecta Neglectus is Latin for neglect or neglecting Sturnus is Latin for a Starling This widespread and common bird was “neglected” for almost 100 years here in North America before being split in the 1800’s Western Meadowlark Pinicola enucleator Pinus is Latin for pine-tree Colo is Latin for “inhabit” Enucleo is Latin for “I take out the kernel” Pine Grosbeak Dacelo gigas Gigas is Latin for giant Dacelo is an anagram of alcedo Alcedo is Latin for a Kingfisher Kookaburra! Polygonia interrogationis Polygonus is Latin for polygonal Interrogatio is Latin for a question, an inquiry Trick question! Question Mark, a butterfly
57	Others of interest… Sturnella neglecta Neglectus is Latin for neglect or neglecting Sturnus is Latin for a Starling This widespread and common bird was “neglected” for almost 100 years here in North America before being split in the 1800’s Western Meadowlark Pinicola enucleator Pinus is Latin for pine-tree Colo is Latin for “inhabit” Enucleo is Latin for “I take out the kernel” Pine Grosbeak Dacelo gigas Gigas is Latin for giant Dacelo is an anagram of alcedo Alcedo is Latin for a Kingfisher Kookaburra! Polygonia interrogationis Polygonus is Latin for polygonal Interrogatio is Latin for a question, an inquiry Trick question! Question Mark, a butterfly