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 understand and remember the scientific names of organisms. The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek, as are some of the names used for higher taxa such as orders and above. At the time when Carolus 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 language of science, and scientific names were in Latin or Greek: Linnaeus continued this practice.

Although Latin is now largely unused except by classical scholars and for certain purposes by botanists and the Roman Catholic Church, Latin can still be found in scientific names. It is helpful to be able to understand the source of scientific names. While 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.

Often a genus name or specific descriptor is simply the Latin or Greek name for the animal (e.g. Canis is Latin for a dog). These words are not included in the table below, because they will only occur for one or two taxa. The words listed below are the common adjectives and other modifiers that repeatedly occur in the scientific names of many organisms.

Words that are very similar to their English forms have not been included.

[edit] See also

[edit] List of words

In this table L = Latin, G = Greek, and LG = similar in both languages.

[edit] A

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
acaulis	G ἄκαυλος	Stemless	Stemless Gentian, Gentiana acaulis; Dwarf Thistle, Cirsium acaule
acutus, acuta	L	Sharpened, pointed	American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus; Angled Sunbeam (Butterfly), Curetis acuta; Northern Pintail duck, Anas acuta
agrestis	G ἀγρός	From the field, wild	Field Vole, Microstus agrestis; Green Field-speedwell, Veronica agrestis
albus	L	White	American White Ibis, Eudocimus albus; White Oak, Quercus alba; Mistletoe, Viscum album
americana	L	American	American Black Bear, Ursus americanus; American Hazel Nut, Corylus americana
ampulla	L	Bottle, flask	Northern Bottlenose Whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus
anthropos	G ἄνθρωπος	Man, human being	Paranthropus
aquaticus	L	Found in water	Eastern Mole, Scalopus aquaticus
archaeos, archaeo-	G ἀρχαῖος, ἀρχαιο-	Ancient	Archaeopteryx
arctos	G ἄρκτος	Bear	Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos horribilis; Common Bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
argentatus	L	Silvery	Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
arvensis	L	From the field	Skylark, Alauda arvensis
astron, astro-, astero-	G ἄστρον, ἀστρο-, ἀστερο-	Star	Starfish (class), Asteroidea
aureus	L	Golden, gold coin	Golden Jackal, Canis aureus; Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria)
australis	L	Southern	Southern Right Whale, Eubalaena australis

[edit] B

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
baccata	L	Berry-bearing	Common Yew, Taxus baccata
blanda	L	Pleasant, smooth, alluring	Greek Windflower, Anemone blanda
borealis	L	Northern	Northern Right Whale Dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis
brachion	G βραχίων	Arm	Przewalski's Gerbil, Brachiones przewalskii; Brachiopoda (phylum); Brachiosaurus
brachys, brachy-	G βραχῦς, βραχυ-	Short	Brazilian Gold Frog, Brachycephalus didactylus
bradys, brady-	G βραδῦς, βραδυ-	Slow	Pygmy Three-toed Sloth, Bradypus pygmaeus
branchia	LG βράγχια	Gills	Lamellibranchia (class, syn. Bivalva); Branchiopoda (class, brine shrimps)
brevis	L	Short	Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Ceratogymna brevis

[edit] C

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
caecus	L	Blind	Blind Mole, Talpa caeca; Northern Eyed Hawkmoth, Smerinthus caecus
caeruleus	L	Blue	Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus; Blue Passion Flower, Passiflora caerulea
canadensis	L	From Canada	Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis
canis	L	Dog	Coyote, Canis latrans; Dipylidium caninum (a tapeworm)
canus	L	Gray (haired), pale gray	Grey-headed Woodpecker, Picus canus; Woolly Groundsel, Senecio canus
cauda	L	Tail	Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus; Thintail Skate, Dipturus leptocaudus
caulos	G καυλός	Stem, stalk	Stemless Gentian, Gentiana acaulis
cephale	G κεφαλή	Head	Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus
ceps	L	Head	Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps
ceros	G κέρας	Horn	Narwal, Monodon monoceros
chilensis	L	From Chile	Paradise Tanager, Tangara chilensis
chlorοs	G χλωρός	Green	Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
chromos	G χρωματ	Color	Clown Loach, Chromobotia macracanthus
cneme	G κνήμη	Shin, leg	White-legged Damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes
cola	L	Dweller	Eurasian Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
corax	G κόραξ	Crow, raven	Common Raven, Corvus corax
coronatus	L	Crowned	Crowned Lemur, Eulemur coronatus
costatus	L	Ribbed	Striped Raphael catfish, Platydoras costatus
crass-	L	Thick	Creeping Blueberry, Vaccinium crassifolium
cristatus	L	Crested	Aardwolf, Proteles cristatus
crocos	G κρόκος	Yellow	Saffron, Crocus sativus; Bicoloured White-toothed Shrew, Crocidura leucodon
cyanos	G κυανός	Blue-green	Azure-winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyana

[edit] D

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
dactylοs	G δάκτυλος	Finger or toe	Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
deca	G δέκα	Ten	Alfonsino, Beryx decadactylus
decem	L	Ten	Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata
derma	G δέρμα	Skin	Yellow Staining Mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus
di-	G δι-	Two	Christmas Orchid, Dipodium punctatum
didelphis	L	Double-wombed	Didelphis virginiana
dino-, deino-	G δεινο-	Terrible	dinosaur, Deinotherium
diplo-	G διπλο-	Double	Two-eyed Orange Spider, Diploglena capensis
dodeca	G δώδεκα	Twelve	Henderson's Shootingstar, Dodecatheon hendersonii
dolicho-	G δολιχο-	Elongated	Knight Anole, Anolis dolichocephalus
domesticus	L	From the house, domestic	House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
dorsum	L	Back	Black-striped Weasel, Mustela strigidorsa
dulcis	L	Sweet	Almond, Prunus dulcis
dynam-	G δύναμις	Power, Force	Dynamics, Thermodynamics

[edit] E

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
eburneus, eburni-	L	Ivory-colored	Ivory Gull, Pagophila eburnea
echinatus	G ἐχῖνος	Prickly, spiny	Edisto Crayfish, Procambarus echinatus; Shortleaf Pine, Pinus echinata
echinos, echino-	G ἐχῖνος	Hedgehog, sea-urchin, spiny	Great Globe Thistle, Echinops sphaerocephalus; Diadema Urchin, Echinothrix diadema; San Pedro Cactus, Echinopsis pachanoi
edulis	L	Edible	Oyster, Ostrea edulis; Common Cockle, Cerastoderma edule, Passion Fruit, Passiflora edulis
elatior	L	Taller	True Oxlip, Primula elatior
electr-	G ἤλεκτρον	1. Amber, amber-colored; 2. Electric (modern usage)	Broad-billed Motmot, Electron platyrhynchum; Electric Eel, Electrophorus electricus
enanti	G ἔναντι	Opposite	Enantiornithes
ennea	G ἐννέα	Nine	Scurvy-grass Sorrel, Oxalis enneaphylla; Banded Sunfish Enneacanthus obesus
ensatus	L	Sword-like	California Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon ensatus
ensi-, ensis	L	Sword, lance	Jackknife Clam, Ensis minor; Swordleaf Rush, Juncus ensifolius
erectus	L	Upright	Homo erectus ("upright man"); Upright Chickweed, Moenchia erecta
erion, erio-	G έριο	Wool, woolly	Common Cottongrass, Eriophorum angustifolium
erosus	L	Indented, jagged, serrated	Jícama, Pachyrhizus erosus; Serrated Hinge-back Tortoise, Kinixys erosa
erythros, erythro-	G ἐρυθρός	Red^[1]^[2]	Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus; Dog's-tooth Violet, Erythronium dens-canis

[edit] F

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
familiaris	L	Domestic, common	Dog, Canis familiaris
felis	L	Cat	Black-footed Cat, Felis nigripes; Cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis
flavus	L	Golden yellow, light yellow	Yellow Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia flava; Yellow-necked Mouse, Apodemus flavicollis
flor-	L	Flower	Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora; Great White Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum
folium	L	Leaf	American Beech, Fagus grandifolia
fulvus	L	Deep yellow, tawny	Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva; Yellow Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus fulvus
fuscus	L	Dark, dark brown	Sooty Tern, Sterna fuscata; Dusky Hopping Mouse, Notomys fuscus

[edit] G

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
gaster	G γαστήρ	Belly	Common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster
geo-	G γαία, γῆ	Earth	Geography, Geology
glabra	L glaber	Smooth^[1]; hairless	Smooth Sumac, Rhus glabra; Omphiscola glabra (a snail)
glycys	G γλυκύς	Sweet	Soybean, Glycine max
gyrinos	G γυρίνος	Tadpole	Spring Salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus; e.g. Crassigyrinus, Proterogyrinus

[edit] H

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
haema-, hema-	G αἷμα	Blood	Haemosporida; Bacteria sp., Haemophilus influenzae
hali-, halio-	G ἅλς	Of the sea, salt	Grey Seal, Halichoerus grypus; Black Abalone, Haliotis cracherodii
haplo-	G ἁπλόος	Simple, single	Mountain Beaver, Apoldontia rufa; Mongolosaurus haplodon
hedra-	G ἕδρα	Seat, facet	Chinese Ephedra, Ephedra sinica; (Polyhedron; Tetrahedron)
heli-, helio-	G ἥλιος	Sun	Sunflower, Helianthus annuus; Sun Spurge, Euphorbia helioscopia
hexa-	G ἕξα-	Six	Water Primrose, Ludwigia hexapetala
hippo-	G ἵππος	Horse	Seahorse, Hippocampus; Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros
hirsuta	L	Hairy	Hairy Bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta; Hairy Fruit-eating Bat, Artibeus hirsutus
homo	L	Human, man	Modern human, Homo sapiens; Neandertal, Homo neanderthalensis
hortensis	L	From the garden	Orphean Warbler, Sylvia hortensis
hydro-	G ὕδωρ, ὑδρο-	Water	Chinese Water Deer, Hydropotes inermis
hyper-	G ὑπέρ	Over, above	St John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum
hypo-, hyp-	G ὑπό-	Under, beneath	Zebra Pleco catfish, Hypancistrus zebra; Common Cat's-ear, Hypochoeris radicata

[edit] I

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
indicus	L	Indian	Malaysian Tapir, Tapirus indicus

[edit] L

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
lateralis	L	Side	Black-footed Rock Wallaby, Petrogale lateralis
lepus	L	Hare	Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Lepus californicus
leucοs	G λευκός	White	White-winged Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
lineatus	L	Lined or striped	Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata
lutea	L	Yellow, saffron-colored	Yellow Vetch, Vicia lutea; Red-billed Leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea

[edit] M

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
macro	G μακρός-	Long, Large	Big-headed Mole Rat, Tachyoryctes macrocephalus
maculatus	L	Spotted	Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius
major	L	Greater	Great Tit, Parus major
malabaricus	L	From Malabar	Chestnut-tailed Starling, Sturnus malabaricus
mauro-	G μαυρο-	Dark, Black	Dark Shrew, Crocidura maurisca
maximus	L	Largest	Royal Tern, Sterna maxima
megas	G μέγας	Large, great	Megalodon shark, Carcharodon megalodon
mephitis	L	Bad odor	Striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis
melano-	G μελανο-	Black	Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophris
micro	G μικρόν	small	Littleleaf Pussytoes, Antennaria microphylla
minimus	L	Smallest	Least Flycatcher, Empidonax minimus
minor	L	Smaller	Great Frigatebird, Fregata minor
mono-	G μονο-	Single	Swinhoe's Storm-petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis
montanus	L	Mountains	Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus
morpho-	G μορφο-	Shape	Menelaus Blue Morpho, Morpho menelaus
mys	G μῦς	Mouse	As rodent, e.g. Phoberomys, Telicomys.

[edit] N

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
nanοs	G νάνος	Dwarf	Brown-capped Woodpecker, Dendrocopos nanus
nona	L	Ninth	Honey Fungus Armillaria nabsnona
nothos	G νόθος	False, wrong	Bluefin Notho Killifish, Nothobranchius rachovii; New Zealand Red Beech, Nothofagus fusca
notos	G νότος	Southern	Fawn Hopping Mouse, Notomys cervinus
novaehollandiae	L	From New Holland (Australia)	Emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae
novaeseelandiae	L	From New Zealand	Southern Boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae
noveboracensis	L	From New York (Novum Eboracum)	Northern Waterthrush, Seiurus noveboracensis
novem	L	Nine	Nine-banded Armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus

[edit] O

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
obscurus	L	Dark	Dusky Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obscurus
occidentalis	L	Western	Eastern Arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis
ocean	G Ὠκεανός	Ocean	Posidonia oceanica
octo-, octa-	G ὀκτο-	Eight	Common Octopus, Octopus vulgaris
-odon, -odus	G οδων, οδους	Tooth	Dimetrodon, Rhizodus
oeos-	G	Tubular	Oesophagostomum, Oesophagostomum bifurcum
officinalis	L	For the workshop; medicinal	Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis
oleum	L	Oil	Jack O'Lantern mushroom, Omphalotus olearius
ops	G όψη	Face	Triceratops
opsis	G ὄψις	Face, appearance	Carolina Parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis
orientalis	L	Eastern	Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis
ortho-	G ὀρθο-	Straight	Orthoptera

[edit] P

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
pachy-	G παχύς, παχυ-	Thick, stout	Pachycephalosaurus
palustris	L	Of the marsh	Mugger Crocodile, Crocodylus palustris
pan- panto-	G πάν, genitive παντός	All	Pandemic, Panorama, Pantomime, Pantotheria
parvus	L	Small	Mountain Pygmy Possum, Burramys parvus
pedi-	L pes, pedis	Foot	Showy Lady Slipper, Cypripedium reginae
pelag-	G πέλαγος	Open sea	Pelagic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus
penn-	L penna	Feather (specifically remex)	Great Auk, Pinguinus impennis
pennatus	L	Winged	Booted Eagle, Aquila pennata
penta-	G πέντα-	Five	Five-Fingered Skink, Chalcides pentadactylus
petra	G πέτρα	Rock, stone	Rock Daisy, Erigeron petrophilus; Roberts's Flat-headed Bat, Sauromys petrophilus
phobia	G φοβία	fear	Arachnophobia, Agoraphobia
phyllo-	G φύλλον	Leaf	Garden Lupin, Lupinus polyphyllus
physi-	G φύσις	Nature	Symphysia ("naturally joined") (a plant)^[3]
phyto-	G φυτόν	Plant	Astrophytum, Astrophytum myriostigma (a cactus)
platy-	G πλατύς, πλατυ-	Flat or broad	Flathead Trout, Salmo platycephalus
poly-	G πολύς, πολυ-	Many	Common Knotgrass, Polygonum aviculare; Polymer
pratensis	L	From the meadow	Meadow Foxtail, Alopecurus pratensis
protos	G πρῶτος	First	Proton, Protozoa
pter-	G πτερόν	Wing or remix	White-winged Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
pubescens	L	Downy	Downy Oak, Quercus pubescens
pulchellus	L	Pretty little	Green Pygmy Goose, Nettapus pulchellus
punctatus	L	Spotted	Thirteen-spotted Lady Beetle, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata

[edit] R

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
repandus	L	Curved upwards, turned up	Peruvian Apple Cactus, Cereus repandus; Hedgehog Mushroom, Hydnum repandum
repens	L	1. Creeping, crawling (rēpens); 2. Unexpected (rĕpens)	Creeping Buttercup, Ranunculus repens; White Clover, Trifolium repens
reptans	L	Creeping, crawling	Creeping Cinquefoil, Potentilla reptans; Reptilia
rhis, rhinos	G ῥις, ῥινός	Nose	Orange Leaf-nosed Bat, Rhinonicteris aurantia
rhiza	G ῥίζα	Root	Bushy Seedbox, Ludwigia helminthorrhiza; Rhizobium (nitogen-fixing soil bacteria)
rhynchos	G ῥύγχος	Beak or snout	Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
rhyti-, rhytis	G ῥυτῖς	Wrinkled, folded	Shaggy Moss, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus; Rhytidodon (syn. Rutiodon)
rostra	L	Beak, bill, snout	Common Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
rostralis	L	With a beak	Buttoned Snout moth, Hypena rostralis
ruber, rubra, rubrum	L	Red	Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber; Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra; Red Maple, Acer rubrum
rufus	L	Reddish, red	Red Wolf, Canis rufus

[edit] S

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
sanguis	L	Blood	Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis
sapiens	L	Wise	recent subspecies of humans: Homo sapiens sapiens ("very wise man")
sativus	L	Sown, cultivated	Pea, Pisum sativum
saura	G σαύρα	Lizard	Lancetfish, Alepisaurus; Maiasaura (dinosaur)
septem-	L	seven	Seven-spot Ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata
silvestris	L	Of the wood; wild	Wild Cat, Felis silvestris
sinensis	L	From China	Tea, Camellia sinensis
specios-	L	showy	Queen's Crape-myrtle, Lagerstroemia speciosa; Japanese Lily, Lilium speciosum
sperma	G σπέρμα	Seed	African daisies, Osteospermum
sphen-	G σφήν-	Wedge	Tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus
stoma	G στόμα	Mouth, opening	Stomate, Gnathostomata
striatus	L	Striped	Striated Heron, Butorides striatus
suchοs	G	Crocodile (from Egyptian)	Eusuchia, Koolasuchus

[edit] T

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
tardus, tardi-	L	Slow, late	Great Bustard, Otis tarda; Chisos Mountains Oak, Quercus tardifolia
tele-, tel-	G τηλε-	Far, distant	New South Wales Waratah, Telopea speciosissima
tenuis	L	Thin, slender, fine	Slender Rush, Juncus tenuis; Plealeaf Knotweed, Polygonum tenue
tetra-	G τετρα-	Four	Four-leaved Allseed, Polycarpon tetraphyllum; Tetrapoda
tinctorius	L	For dyeing	Woad, Isatis tinctoria
tomentosus	L	Furry	Fuzzy Mock-orange, Philadelphus tomentosus
tres, tris, tri-	L G τρία	Three	Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
trich-, thrix	G τρίχα	Hair	Cloud ear fungus, Auricularia polytricha
triquetrus	L	Triangular, three-cornered	Three-cornered Garlic, Allium triquetrum

[edit] U

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
unus	L	One	Monotropa uniflora

[edit] V

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
variabilis	L	Variable	Grey Bunting, Emberiza variabilis
variegatus	L	Variegated	Variegated Laughingthrush, Garrulax variegatus; Croton, Codiaeum variegatum
velox, velocis	L	Swift	Swift Fox, Vulpes velox; Velociraptor
ventralis	L	Ventral, of the belly	Hispaniolan Parrot, Amazona ventralis; Southern Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion ventrale
vernus, vernalis	L	Spring	Spring Gentian, Gentiana verna; Spring Pheasant's Eye, Adonis vernalis
verrucosus	L	Rough skinned	Javan Warty Pig, Sus verrucosus; Reef Stonefish, Synanceia verrucosa
verus	L	True, genuine	True Aloe, Aloe vera; Lady's Bedstraw, Galium verum
villosus	L	Hairy, shaggy	Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus; Hairy Vetch, Vicia villosa
viridis	L	Green	Green Alder, Alnus viridis; Frog Orchid, Coeloglossum viride
virosus	L	Poisonous	Poisonous Lettuce, Lactuca virosa; Cowbane, Cicuta virosa
volans	L	Flying	Southern Flying Squirrel, Glaucomys volans
vulgaris	L	Common	Common Octopus, Octopus vulgaris; Common Privet, Ligustrum vulgare

[edit] W, X, Y, Z

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
xanthos	G ξανθός	Yellow	Yellow Staining Mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus
zygos	G ζυγός	Joined	Zygoptera

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b "The Botanary". http://davesgarden.com/botanary/.
^ Chuck Griffith. "Dictionary of Botanical Epithets". http://www.winternet.com/~chuckg/dictionary.html.
^ Umberto Quattrocchi (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. CRC Press. pp. 2610. ISBN 0849326737. http://books.google.com/books?id=zIOvJSJs-IkC&pg=PA2610&lpg=PA2610&dq=symphysia+growing+together&source=web&ots=RWgYYU0vig&sig=_XjgdgC4GWByoKCvO30sTQj1HX8.

[edit] External links

[botanary-0] "The Botanary". http://davesgarden.com/botanary/.

[griffith-1] Chuck Griffith. "Dictionary of Botanical Epithets". http://www.winternet.com/~chuckg/dictionary.html.

[2] Umberto Quattrocchi (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. CRC Press. pp. 2610. ISBN 0849326737. http://books.google.com/books?id=zIOvJSJs-IkC&pg=PA2610&lpg=PA2610&dq=symphysia+growing+together&source=web&ots=RWgYYU0vig&sig=_XjgdgC4GWByoKCvO30sTQj1HX8.

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