List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names
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
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
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
Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
---|---|---|---|---|
acanthus etc. | G ἄκανθος (ákanthos) | thorny, spiny | cotton thistle , Onopordum acanthium
|
acanthus – acanthias – acantha – acanthium |
acaulis | G, L | stemless | silver thistle, Carlina acaulis;
dwarf date palm, Phoenix acaulis |
acaulis – acaule |
actin-, actino- | G ἀκτίς (aktis) | ray, radial | Actinophryida
|
actin – actino |
acutus | L | sharpened, pointed | American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus;
angled sunbeam (butterfly), Curetis acuta; northern pintail, Anas acuta |
acutus – acuta – acutum |
aculeatus | L | prickly | short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus;
three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus; butcher's-broom, Ruscus aculeatus |
aculeatus – aculeata – aculeatum |
acuminatus | L | sharp, pointed, tapering | desert quandong , Santalum acuminatum
|
acuminatus – acuminata – acuminatum |
adustus | L | singed, burnt | side-striped jackal, Canis adustus; dark onyx cowry, Erronea adusta |
adustus – adusta – adustum |
aequalis | L | equal | , a ground beetle | aequalis – aequale |
aestivus | L | summer | turquoise-fronted amazon, Amazona aestiva; summer spider orchid, Caladenia aestiva , Triticum aestivumLoddon lily, Leucojum aestivum; common wheat |
aestivus – aestiva – aestivum |
affinis | L | neighbouring, similar, kindred | lesser scaup, Aythya affinis; dugite, Pseudonaja affinis blue tongue, Melastoma affine; Persian violet, Exacum affine |
affinis – affine |
africanus | L | African | reed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus; southern African frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus africana; African clubhook-squid, Notonykia africanae; |
africanus – africana, africanae – africanum |
agrestis | L | of the field, wild | field vole , Microtus agrestis;
green field-speedwell , Veronica agrestis
|
agrestis – agreste |
alatus | L āla | winged | pitcher plant, Nepenthes alata;
winged seahorse, Hippocampus alatus; winged-stem passion flower , Passiflora alata
|
alatus – alata – alatum |
albiceps | L | white-headed | blow fly, Chrysomya albiceps;
moth, Syngamia albiceps; wood groundling, Parachronistis albiceps; Mexican golden red rump tarantula, Brachypelma albiceps |
albiceps |
albidens | L | white-toothed | white-toothed brush mouse, Coccymys albidens; see also leucodon |
albidens |
albopictus | L | painted white | Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus; Moneilema albopictum |
albopictus – albopicta – albopictum |
albus | L | white | white ibis, Eudocimus albus; white oak, Quercus alba; mistletoe, Viscum album |
albus – alba – album |
alpinus | L | alpine; of the Alps | alpine bearberry, Arctostaphylos alpina; , Parthenium alpinumalpine feverfew |
alpinus – alpina – alpinum |
amabilis | L | lovable | lovable lily, Lilium amabile; lovely cotinga, Cotinga amabilis; lovely fairywren, Malurus amabilis; lovely fir, Abies amabilis |
amabilis – amabile |
ambiguus | L | uncertain | beautiful woolly sunflower, Eriophyllum ambiguum; doubtful cone, Conus ambiguus; questionable Stropharia, Stropharia ambigua; tick bush, Kunzea ambigua |
ambiguus – ambigua – ambiguum |
amblys | G ἀμβλύς (amblús) | blunt, dull | marine iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus | amblys – All pages with titles beginning with Ambly |
americanus | L | American | American mastodon , Mammut americanum
|
americanus – americana – americanum |
amphi- | G ἀμφί (amphí) | of all kinds, on all sides | amphibian; Amphipoda | All pages with titles beginning with Amphi |
ampulla | L | bottle, flask | northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus | ampullatus – ampullata – ampullatum – All pages with titles beginning with Ampulla |
amurensis | L | from the Amur River |
Amur grape, Vitis amurensis | amurensis – amurense |
anglicus | L | from England | English stonecrop , Sedum anglicum |
anglicus – anglica – anglicum |
angolensis | L | from Angola | African teak, Pterocarpus angolensis | angolensis – angolense |
angustiflorus | L | narrow-flowered | Eastwood's bellflower , Campanula angustiflora;
narrowflower lupine, Lupinus angustiflorus |
angustiflorus – angustiflora – angustiflorum |
angustifolius | L | narrow-leaved | narrowleaf cottongrass , Eriophorum angustifolium;
narrowleaf cottonwood, Populus angustifolia; narrowleaf sunflower , Helianthus angustifolius
|
angustifolius – angustifolia – angustifolium |
angustus | L | narrow | narrowleaf pansy monkeyflower, Mimulus angustatus; , Acaciella angustissima;
slimleaf bean, Phaseolus angustissimus; Prairie acacia sea snail, Vexillum angustissimum |
angustus – angusta – angustum – angustatus – angustissimus – angustissima – angustissimum |
antarcticus | L | of the southern hemisphere | Pygoscelis antarcticus ;gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus; |
antarcticus – antarctica – antarcticum |
anthos | G ἄνθος (ánthos) | flower | anthozoans, Anthozoa;
golden wattle, Acacia pycnantha; |
All pages with titles beginning with Antho |
anthropo- | G ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos) | man, human being | Paranthropus | All pages with titles beginning with Anthropo |
apis | L | bee | western honey bee, Apis mellifera;
white sage, Salvia apiana |
apianus – apiana – apianum – All pages with titles beginning with Api |
aquaticus | L | found near water | eastern mole, Scalopus aquaticus; wild rice, Zizania aquatica; water spinach, Ipomoea aquatica; , Myriophyllum aquaticum,
parrot's-feather |
aquaticus – aquatica – aquaticum |
arborescens | L | tree-like or shrub-like | Artemisia arborescens; | arborescens |
archaeo- | G ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos) | ancient | Archaeopteryx | All pages with titles beginning with Archaeo – All pages with titles beginning with Archeo |
arch-, archi-, archo-, -archus | G ἀρχός (arkhos) | ruler, leader, prince, highest, greatest | Archidendron grandiflorum | archi – archo |
arctos | G ἄρκτος (árktos) | bear | grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis;
common bearberry, Arctostaphylos |
arctos – All pages with titles beginning with Arcto |
arena | L | sand | sand iris, Iris arenaria; sand rock-cress, Arabidopsis arenosa; sand seatrout, Cynoscion arenarius; sand-dusted cone, Conus arenatus |
arenarius – arenaria – arenarium – arenatus – arenata – arenosa |
arenicolus | L | sand-dwelling | dunes sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus arenicolus; sand goldenrod, Solidago arenicola; sanddwelling dewberry, Rubus arenicola; sandy stargazer, Gillellus arenicola |
arenicolus – arenicola |
argentatus | L | silvery | European herring gull, Larus argentatus | argentatus – argentata – argentatum |
argenteus | L | silvery | silver buffaloberry, Shepherdia argentea; silver tree, Leucadendron argenteum; silvery lupine, Lupinus argenteus; white mulberry, Pipturus argenteus |
argenteus – argentea – argenteum |
argentum | L | silver | sea snail, Calliostoma argentum | argentum |
argillicola | L | living on clay | clay Fiddler Crab, Minuca argillicola; Hullsia argillicola | argillicola |
aromatica | G ἄρωμα (árōma) | aromatic | clove nutmeg, , Syzygium aromaticum | aromaticus – aromatica – aromaticum |
arthro- | G ἄρθρον (árthron) | joint | Arthropoda |
All pages with titles beginning with Arthro |
arvensis | L | in the field | skylark, Alauda arvensis; , Equisetum arvensefield horsetail |
arvensis – arvense |
asiatica | L | Asian | white-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica; Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus, Persian buttercup, Ranunculus asiaticus |
asiatica – asiaticus |
astro-, astero- | G ἄστρον (ástron) | star | starfish (class), Asteroidea |
All pages with titles beginning with Astero – All pages with titles beginning with Astro |
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 |
ater – atra – atrum – atratus – atrata – atratum |
atropurpureus | L | deep purple, blackish-purple | Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'; Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea; purple-flowered cotoneaster, Cotoneaster atropurpureus |
atropurpureus – atropurpurea – atropurpureum |
aurantius, aurantiacus | L | orange -colored |
bitter orange, Citrus aurantium | aurantius – aurantia – aurantium; aurantiacus – aurantiaca – aurantiacum |
aureus | L | golden | golden jackal, Canis aureus; Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria) see also chrysos |
aureus – aurea – aureum |
auritus | L | having (large) ears | , Crossoptilon auritum | auritus – aurita – auritum |
australis | L | southern | southern right whale, Eubalaena australis | australis – australe |
B
Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
---|---|---|---|---|
baccatus | L | berry-bearing | Conus baccatus , a sea snail |
baccatus – baccata – baccatum |
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 | barbatus – barbata – barbatum |
bicolor | L | two-colored | bicolor angelfish, Centropyge bicolor; bicolor cleanerfish, Labroides bicolor; bicolored moth, Manulea bicolor | bicolor |
bicoloratus | L | two-colored | bicolored angle, Macaria bicolorata; Kenya two-headed snake, Micrelaps bicoloratus; orchid, Bulbophyllum bicoloratum | bicoloratus – bicolorata – bicoloratum |
bicornis | L | two-horned | black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis | bicornis |
bios | G βίος (bíos) | life | biota , all living things |
bios |
blandus | L | pleasant, smooth, alluring | Greek windflower, Anemone blanda; Mallos blandus, a spider | blandus – blanda – blandum |
borealis | L | northern | northern bedstraw , Galium boreale |
borealis – boreale |
brachion | G βραχίων (brakhíōn) | arm | Brachiopoda (phylum); Brachiosaurus |
All pages with titles beginning with Brachio |
brasiliensis | L | Brazilian | Brazilian brown bat Eptesicus brasiliensis | All pages with titles containing Brasiliensis |
brachy- | G βραχύς (brakhús) | short | Brazilian gold frog, Brachycephalus didactylus | All pages with titles beginning with Brachy |
brachyphyllus | G | short-leaved | flower, Colchicum brachyphyllum; leaf-nosed bats, Brachyphylla; shortleaf baccharis, Baccharis brachyphylla; see also brevifolius |
brachyphyllus – brachyphylla – brachyphyllum |
brady- | G βραδύς (bradús) | slow | pygmy three-toed sloth, Bradypus pygmaeus | All pages with titles beginning with Brady |
branchia | G βράγχιον (bránkhion) | gills | Lamellibranchia (class, syn. Bivalva); Branchiopoda (class, brine shrimps) |
All pages with titles beginning with Branchi |
brasiliensis | L | from Brazil | Brazilian marsh rat, Holochilus brasiliensis; Brazilian stick mantis, Brunneria brasiliensis; rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis | brasiliensis – brasiliense |
brevi- | L brevis | short | silvery-cheeked hornbill, Ceratogymna brevis | brevis – breve – All pages with titles beginning with Brevi |
brevicaudatus | L | short-tailed | bearded leaf chameleon, Rieppeleon brevicaudatus; sea snail, Lophiotoma brevicaudata; short-tailed ceratosoma, Ceratosoma brevicaudatum | brevicaudatus – brevicaudata – brevicaudatum |
brevicollis | L | short-necked | short-necked oil beetle, Meloe brevicollis | brevicollis – brevicolle |
brevifolius | L | short-leaved | short-leaved dudleya, Dudleya blochmaniae subsp. brevifolia; shortleaf sneezeweed, Helenium brevifolium; zig-zag bog-rush, Schoenus brevifolius; see also brachyphyllus |
brevifolius – brevifolia – brevifolium |
brevirostris | L | short beak | pignosed arrowtooth eel, Dysomma brevirostre; shortnose ponyfish, Leiognathus brevirostris |
brevirostris – brevirostre |
britannicus | L | from Great Britain | British yellowhead, Inula britannica; Cortinarius britannicus, a mushroom; Geastrum britannicum , an earthstar fungus |
britannicus – britannica – britannicum |
bulbus | G βολβός | bulb | bulbous buttercup, Ranunculus bulbosus; onion cone, Conus bulbus |
bulbus – bulbosus – bulbosa |
C
Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
---|---|---|---|---|
caecus | L | blind | northern eyed hawkmoth , Smerinthus caecus |
caecus – caeca – caecum |
caeruleus | L | blue | Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus; blue passion flower, Passiflora caerulea | caeruleus – caerulea – caeruleum |
californicus | L | California | California blue dorid, Felimare californiensis | californicus – californica – californiensis |
callosus | L | calloused | Cyathea callosa; orchid, Paphiopedilum callosum |
callosus – callosa – 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 |
calvus- calva – calvum |
cambricus | L, from Cambria | from Wales | Welsh groundsel, Senecio cambrensis; Flexicalymene cambrensis , a fossil trilobite |
cambricus – cambrica – cambricum – cambrensis |
canadensis | L | from Canada | bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis | canadensis – canadense |
candidus | L | brightly white, shining white | Madonna lily, Lilium candidum | candidus – candida – candidum |
canescens | L | turning grey- or white-haired | Geraea canescens (desert sunflower); Atriplex canescens | canescens |
canis | L | dog | coyote, Canis latrans; Dipylidium caninum (a tapeworm) | canis – caninus – canina – caninum |
canorus | L canōrus | melodious | common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus; Chinese hwamei, Garrulax canorus Cuban grassquit, Phonipara canora; Campylocheta canora, a tachinid fly |
canorus – canora – canorum |
canus | L | gray (haired), pale gray | grey-headed woodpecker, Picus canus; woolly groundsel, Senecio canus | canus – cana – canum |
caprae | L | of a goat | Staphylococcus caprae | caprae – capri |
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 |
castaneus – castanea – 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 | acaulis – acaule |
cephalo- | G κεφαλή (kephalḗ) | head | blue-spotted grouper , Cephalopholis argus |
All pages with titles beginning with Cephal |
-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 | All pages with titles beginning with Cest |
chaetes | G χαίτη (khaítē) | flowing hair, or mane | Polychaeta; earthworms, Oligochaeta |
|
chilensis | L | from Chile | paradise tanager, Tangara chilensis | chilensis – chilense |
chinensis | L | from China | China rose, Rosa chinensis; Chinese onion, Allium chinense; Chinese sumac, Rhus chinensis; see also Sinense, below |
chinensis – chinense |
chloro- | G χλωρός (khlōrós) | pale green | common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus; green algae, Chlorophyta | All pages with titles beginning with Chloro |
chordatus | L | spined | Stylephorus chordatus , Tinospora cordifolia |
chordatus – chordata – chordatum |
chroma | G χρῶμα (khrôma) | color | clown loach, Chromobotia macracanthus | All pages with titles beginning with Chrom |
chrysos | G χρυσός (khrusós) | gold | Chrysophyceae (golden algae) see also aureus |
All pages with titles beginning with Chryso |
chrysophyllus | G | gold-leaved | golden chinquapin, Chrysolepis chrysophylla; golden-leaved Jerusalem sage, Phlomis chrysophylla; satinleaf, Chrysophyllum oliviforme |
chrysophyllus – chrysophylla – chrysophyllum |
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 |
ciliaris – ciliare – ciliatus – ciliata – ciliatum – ciliolatum |
cinereus | L | ash, ash-colored | masked shrew, Sorex cinereus; , Urocyon cinereoargenteusAustralian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea; gray thrasher, Toxostoma cinereum; common gray fox |
cinereus – cinerea – cinereum |
cirrhus | G κιρρός (kirrhós) | orange | silverspotted sculpin , Blepsias cirrhosus |
cirrhosus – cirrhosa – cirrhosum |
citri | L | citrus | the citrus blossom moth, Prays citri | citri |
colchicus | L | from Colchis (Greek Κολχῐ́ς, Kolchís) or Georgia | , a primrose | colchicus – colchica – colchicum |
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.[1] |
|
clathratus | L | grated, latticed | , a sea snail | clathratus – clathrata – clathratum |
collaris | L | collared | mottled sand grasshopper , Spharagemon collare |
collaris – collare |
communis | L | common | great golden maidenhair , Polytrichum commune |
communis – commune |
compressus | L compressus | slender, pressed together | slender oatgrass, empire gudgeon, Hypseleotris compressa , an orchidDendrobium compressum |
compressus – compressa – compressum |
concolor | L | having uniform color throughout | cougar, Puma concolor; white fir, Abies concolor | |
conno- | G κόννος (kónnos) | beard | wildebeest, Connochaetes gnou | All pages with titles beginning with Conno |
corax | L corvus G κόραξ (kórax) | crow, raven | common raven, Corvus corax | corax |
cordatus | L | heart-shaped | , Echinocardium cordatum | cordatus – cordata – cordatum |
cordifolius | L | heart-shaped leaves | heartleaf aster, Symphyotrichum cordifolium; heart-leaved moonseed, Tinospora cordifolia; Tucson bur ragweed, Ambrosia cordifolia |
cordifolius – cordifolia – cordifolium |
coriaceus | L, from corium ("leather") | leathery | inland rock orchid , Dendrobium coriaceum |
coriaceus – coriacea – coriaceum |
cornu | L cornū | horn | garden snail, Cornu aspersum; great ramshorn, Planorbarius corneus |
All pages with titles beginning with Cornu |
coronatus | L | crowned | crowned lemur, Eulemur coronatus; crowned turban shell, Lunella coronata |
coronatus – coronata – coronatum |
costatus | L | ribbed | ribbed slipper shell, Maoricrypta costata; striped Raphael catfish, Platydoras costatus | costatus – costata – costatum |
crassus, crassi- | L | thick, fat | , Cardisoma crassum | crassus – crassa – crassum |
cristatus | L | crested | aardwolf, Proteles cristatus; blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata; crested wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum |
cristatus – cristata – cristatum |
crocos | G κρόκος (krókos) | yellow | bicoloured white-toothed shrew, Crocidura leucodon; saffron, Crocus sativus; spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta |
All pages with titles beginning with croc |
cryo- | G κρύος (krúos) | cold | Cryogenics | All pages with titles beginning with Cryo |
crypto- | G κρυπτός (kruptós) | hidden | Cryptococcus; Cryptosporidium | All pages with titles beginning with Crypto |
culminicola | L | summit dweller | Elaeocarpus culminicola; Euxoa culminicola; Pinus culminicola, Potosi pinyon | All pages with titles containing culminicola |
cursor | L | runner, racer | cursorial akodont, Akodon cursor; Lacépède's ground snake , Erythrolamprus cursor |
cursor |
curvirostris | L | curved beak | boxer snipe eel, Nemichthys curvirostris; , Toxostoma curvirostrecurve-billed thrasher |
curvirostris – curvirostre |
cyano- | G κυανός (kuanós) | blue-green | azure-winged magpie, Cyanopica cyanus; big blue octopus, Octopus cyanea; blue orchid, Aganisia cyanea |
All pages with titles beginning with Cyano – cyaneus – cyanea – cyaneum |
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 | All pages with titles beginning with Dactyl |
deca-, deka- | G δέκα (déka) | ten |
alfonsino, Beryx decadactylus | All pages with titles beginning with Deca |
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 | dendro – dendron – dendrum |
derma | G δέρμα (dérma) | skin | yellow staining mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus | All pages with titles beginning with Derm |
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 |
diffusus – diffusa – diffusum – diffusior – diffusissimus |
digitatus | L | having fingers | finger rush Juncus digitatus; baobab, Adansonia digitata; dead man's fingers, Alcyonium digitatum |
digitatus – digitata – digitatum |
dilatatus | L | dilated, extended | dallisgrass, Paspalum dilatatum; Maianthemum dilatatum |
dilatatus – dilatata – dilatatum |
dioica | L | dioicous |
common nettle, Urtica dioica | dioica |
dino-, deino- | G δεινός (deinós) | terrifying | dinosaur, Deinotherium | All pages with titles beginning with Dino |
diplo- | G διπλός (diplós) | double | two-eyed orange spider, Diploglena capensis | All pages with titles beginning with Diplo |
disc, disk | G δίσκος (dískos) | disc | common fungus moth, Metalectra discalis | All pages with titles beginning with Disc – discalis – discale |
dodeca- | G δώδεκα (dṓdeka) | twelve | Henderson's shootingstar , Dodecatheon hendersonii |
All pages with titles beginning with Dodeca |
dolicho- | G δολιχός (dolikhós) | elongated, long | knight anole, Anolis dolichocephalus | All pages with titles beginning with Dolicho |
domesticus | L | of the house or domestic | domestic pig, Sus scrofa domestica; , Passer domesticushouse sparrow |
domesticus – domestica – domesticum |
dorsum | L | back | back-striped weasel, Mustela strigidorsa | All pages with titles beginning with Dors |
dubius | L | doubtful | little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
see also nomina dubia
|
dubius – dubia |
dulcis | L | sweet | almond, Prunus dulcis | dulcis – dulce |
dumetorum | L, from dumus, "bramble" | "of the thickets" | Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum; bitter yam, Dioscorea dumetorum; coastal green hairstreak, Callophrys dumetorum | dumetorum |
dumicola | L | scrub dweller | Acaena dumicola; Cerbera dumicola; Stegodyphus dumicola, African social spider | All pages with titles containing dumicola |
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 | eburneus – eburnea – eburneum |
echinatus | L | prickly, spiny | shortleaf pine , Pinus echinata |
echinatus – echinata – echinatum |
echino- | L echīnus G ἐχῖνος (ekhînos) | hedgehog, sea-urchin | San Pedro cactus , Echinopsis pachanoi |
All pages with titles beginning with Echino |
edulis | L | edible | common cockle, Cerastoderma edule; king bolete, Boletus edulis; oyster, Ostrea edulis; passion fruit, Passiflora edulis | edulis – edule |
elatior | L | taller | true oxlip, Primula elatior | 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 |
elegans – elegantissimus – elegantissima – elegantissimum |
emarginatus | L | having no edges | Phongolo suckermouth, Chiloglanis emarginatus; Gibraltar sea lavender, Limonium emarginatum; acerola, Malpighia emarginata; bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata |
emarginatus – emarginata – emarginatum |
enanti- | G ἐναντίος (enantíos) | opposite, against | Enantiornithes | All pages with titles beginning with Enantio |
ennea- | G ἐννέα (ennéa) | nine | scurvy-grass sorrel , Oxalis enneaphylla |
All pages with titles beginning with Ennea |
ensatus | L | sword-like | California giant salamander, Dicamptodon ensatus | ensatus – ensata – ensatum |
ensis, ensi- | L | sword, lance | jackknife clam, Ensis minor; swordleaf rush, Juncus ensifolius | All pages with titles beginning with Ensi – ensiformis |
-ensis | L | of, from (a place) | Tadarida brasiliensis (Brazilian free-tailed bat); Lucy , Australopithecus afarensis |
|
eques | L | knight, horseman | Hoheria equitum |
eques |
erectus | L | upright | upright chickweed , Moenchia erecta |
erectus – erecta – erectum |
erio- | G ἔριον (érion) | wool, woolly | common cottongrass , Eriophorum angustifolium |
All pages with titles beginning with Erio |
erosus | L | indented, jagged, serrated | serrated hinge-back tortoise , Kinixys erosa |
erosus – erosa – erosum |
erythro- | G ἐρυθρός (eruthrós) | red[2] | spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus; dog's-tooth violet, Erythronium dens-canis | All pages with titles beginning with Erythro |
esculentus | L | edible | edible frog, Pelophylax kl. esculentus; Gyromitra esculenta | esculentus esculenta esculentum |
europaeus | L | European | European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus; European owl moth, Brahmaea europaea | europaeus – europaea – europaeum |
Euryops | G | wide-eyed | euryops, plant genus; Goiter blacksmelt, Bathylagus euryops | euryops |
excelsus | L | exalted | African teak, Milicia excelsa; excelsior cone, Conus excelsus | excelsus – excelsa – excelsum |
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 | fallax |
falx | L | sickle | sickle milkvetch, Astragalus falcatus; sickle-leaved hare's-ear, Bupleurum falcatum; sicklethorn, Asparagus falcatus; wild pear, Persoonia falcata | falcatus – falcata – falcatum – falciformis – falx |
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 |
felinus – felina – felinum |
-fer | L | -bearing | western honey bee, Apis mellifera; coconut, Cocos nucifera | |
ferox | L | ferocious, wild, bold | long snouted lancetfish, Alepisaurus ferox; fossa, Cryptoprocta ferox | ferox |
ferus | L | wild | wild horse, Equus ferus; wild Bactrian camel, Camelus ferus | ferus – fera – ferum |
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 |
ferrugineus – ferruginea – ferrugineum |
fidelis | L | faithful | faithful sea slug, Goniobranchus fidelis; faithful leafcutting bee, Megachile fidelis; Pacific sideband, Monadenia fidelis | fidelis |
filum | L | thread | thread fern, Blechnum filiforme; thread-leaved sundew , Drosera filiformis |
filifer – filifera – filiformis – filiforme |
fimbriatus | L | fringed, fibrous | fringed earthstar, Geastrum fimbriatum; gang-gang cockatoo , Callocephalon fimbriatum |
fimbriatus – fimbriata – fimbriatum |
flavus | L | golden yellow, light yellow | yellow pitcher plant, Sarracenia flava; yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis | flavus – flava – flavum |
floridus | L | flowery | blue palo verde, Parkinsonia florida; floral banded wobbegong, Orectolobus floridus | floridus – floridum |
flor- | L flos | flower | southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora; great white trillium , Trillium grandiflorum |
All pages with titles beginning with flori |
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 | 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 |
formosanus – formosana – formosanum |
formosus | L fōrmōsus | (well-)formed, beautiful | beautiful giant-flowered dendrobium , Dendrobium formosum |
formosus – formosa – 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 | fragilis |
fuliginosus | L | sooty | jet black ant, Lasius fuliginosus; ruby tiger, Phragmatobia fuliginosa; sooty hairstreak, Satyrium fuliginosum; sooty milkcap, Lactarius fuliginosus | fuliginosus – fuliginosa – fuliginosum |
fulvus | L | deep yellow, tawny | Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva; sulphur leather coral, Rhytisma fulvum; tawny grisette, Amanita fulva; yellow ground squirrel, Spermophilus fulvus | fulvus – fulva – fulvum |
furcatus | L | forked | forked viburnum, Viburnum furcatum; forked wormwood, Artemisia furcata; swallow-tailed gull, Creagrus furcatus | furcatus – furcata – furcatum |
fuscus | L | dark, dark brown | dusky hopping mouse, Notomys fuscus; dusky pitcher-plant, Nepenthes fusca; rusty peat moss, Sphagnum fuscum; sooty tern, Sterna fuscata | fuscus – fusca – fuscum |
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 |
garrulus – garrula – garrulum |
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 | giganteus – gigantea – giganteum |
gigas | G γίγας | giant | snow morel, Gyromitra gigas; cœur de la mer , Entada gigas |
All pages with titles containing gigas |
glaber | L glaber | smooth; hairless[3] | naked mole-rat, Heterocephalus glaber; smooth sumac, Rhus glabra; Omphiscola glabra (a snail) | glaber – glabra – glabrum |
glacialis | L | found in glaciers | glacier lantern fish, Benthosema glaciale; Endocellion glaciale , a daisy |
glacialis – glaciale |
glandulosus | L | having kernels | Basilan Island caecilian, Ichthyophis glandulosus; , Ribes glandulosum,honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa, warty jumping-slug, Hemphillia glandulosa; skunk currant |
glandulosus – glandulosa – glandulosum |
glaucus | L glaucus G γλαυκός (glaukós) | blue-green, blue-gray, gleaming | Glaucidae , nudibranch family |
glaucus – glauca – glaucum |
glutinosus | L glutinosus | sticky | common alder, Alnus glutinosa; viscid black earth tongue, Glutinoglossum glutinosum; northern slimy salamander, Plethodon glutinosus |
glutinosus – glutinosa – glutinosum |
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 | gracilis – gracile |
gracilipes | L grăcĭlĭpes[4] | slender-footed | slenderstalk monkeyflower, Mimulus gracilipes; slimfoot century plant , Agave gracilipes |
gracilipes |
graniticus | L | granite | granite serpentweed , Tonestus graniticus |
graniticus – granitica – graniticum |
graveolens | L gravis | strong-smelling | common rue, Ruta graveolens; lippia, Lippia graveolens | 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 | gregarius – gregaria – gregarium |
griseus | L (a Neo-Latin loanword from Germanic) | grey | white-banded house jumping spider , Hypoblemum griseum |
griseus – grisea – griseum |
groenlandicus | L | from Greenland (Old Norse Grœnland) | bog Labrador tea , Rhododendron groenlandicum |
groenlandicus – groenlandica – 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- | G ἅλς (háls) | of the sea, salt | black abalone , Haliotis cracherodii |
|
hamatus | L | hooked | Slender-billed kite, Helicolestes hamatus ; Ruitersbos pincushion, Leucospermum hamatum; Dark Tiger (butterfly) Tirumala hamata | hamatus – hamatum – hamata |
haplo- | G ἁπλόος (haplóos) | simple, single | Mongolosaurus haplodon |
|
hedra- | G ἕδρα (hédra) | seat, facet | Chinese ephedra, Ephedra sinica | |
helio- | G ἥλιος (hḗlios) | sun | sun spurge , Euphorbia helioscopia |
|
hemisphaerica | G | half-sphere | sand laurel oak, Quercus hemisphaerica, sulphur rose, Rosa hemisphaerica | Hemisphaerica |
hetero- | G | diversely or different | melancholy thistle, Cirsium heterophyllum, Leucanthemum heterophyllum, Smith's cress, Lepidium heterophyllum | heterophyllum |
hexa- | G ἕξ (héx) | six |
water primrose, Ludwigia hexapetala | |
hibernicus | L | from Ireland | Mycobacterium hiberniae; Pisidium hibernicum |
hiberniae – hibernicus – hibernicum – hibernica |
hibridus | L | hybrid | butterbur, Petasites hybridus, brown spider monkey, Ateles hybridus; kelp goose, Chloephaga hybrida; alsike clover, Trifolium hybridum; | hibridus – hybridus – hibrida – hybrida – hibridum – hybridum |
hippo- | G ἵππος (híppos) | horse | seahorse, Hippocampus; lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros | |
hirsutus | L | hairy | hairy bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta; , Hypericum hirsutumhairy fruit-eating bat, Artibeus hirsutus; hairy St John's-wort |
hirsutus – hirsuta – hirsutum |
hispidus | L | rough, shaggy, bristly, prickly | white butterfly triggerplant , Stylidium hispidum |
hispidus – hispida – 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 |
hortensis – hortense |
humilis | L | low, small, humble | Italian jasmine , Jasminum humile |
humilis – humile |
hydro- | G ὕδωρ, ὑδρο- (húdōr, hudro-) | water | Chinese water deer, Hydropotes inermis; capybara , Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris |
|
hyemalis | L hiems | winter | , both fungi | hyemalis – hyemale – hiemalis – hiemale |
hyper- | G ὑπέρ (hupér) | over, above | St John's wort , Hypericum perforatum |
|
hyperboreus | G ὑπέρ Βορέᾱ (hupér Boréā) | from the Arctic region (Hyperborea) | tundra fleabane, Erigeron hyperboreus , Polytrichum hyperboreumtangle or cuvie, Laminaria hyperborea; estuary beggarsticks, Bidens hyperborea boreal bur-reed, Sparganium hyperboreum; boreal haircap moss |
hyperboreus – hyperborea – 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 |
iliacus – iliaca |
imbricatus | L | tiled | Mountain owl's-clover , Orthocarpus imbricatus |
imbricatus – imbricata – imbricatum |
indicus | L | Indian | Malaysian tapir , Tapirus indicus |
indicus – indica – indicum |
inaequalis | L | unequal | variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis | inaequalis – inaequale |
inedulis | L | inedible | fungus, Caloboletus inedulis | inedulis – inedule |
inermis | L | unarmed, defenceless | water deer, Hydropotes inermis; henna tree, Lawsonia inermis turkey-berry, Canthium inerme; white milkwood, Sideroxylon inerme |
inermis – inerme |
ingratus | L | offensive | See Ingrata | ingrata – ingratus – ingratum |
innotatus | L | unmarked | unmarked dagger moth, Acronicta innotata | innotata |
irregularis | L | unusual or irregular | variable burrowing asp, Atractaspis irregularis; viper's bugloss, Hadena irregularis | irregularis – irregulare |
japonicus | L | Japanese | food wrapper plant, Mallotus japonicus; Japanese pagoda tree, Styphnolobium japonicum; Japanese spiraea, Spiraea japonica; see also nipponensis | japonicus – japonica – japonicum |
jubatus | L iubātus | having a mane, crested | Piptochaetium jubatum , a speargrass species |
jubatus – jubata – jubatum |
kentuckiensis | L | from Kentucky | Kentucky lady's slipper, Cypripedium kentuckiense; Kentucky lichen moth, Cisthene kentuckiensis | kentuckiensis – kentuckiense |
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 | laetus – laetum |
laevis | L | smooth | red-eyed assassin bug, Platymeris laevicollis; smooth bedstraw, Cruciata laevipes | All pages with titles containing Laevis |
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 poppy , Papaver lapponicum |
lapponicus – lapponica – lapponicum |
latus | L | flank; broad | wych elm , Ulmus glabra 'Latifolia Aurea' |
|
laxus | L | wide, yielding | , Chlorophytum laxum | laxus – laxa – laxum |
lepidus | L | pleasant, pleasing, charming | embossed hawthorn buprestid, Dicerca lepida , a boletegreenthroat darter, Etheostoma lepidum; Leccinellum lepidum |
lepidus – lepida – lepidum |
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 | white-headed stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus; also see albiceps |
leucocephalus – leucocephala – leucocephalum |
leucodon | G | white-toothed | lesser mole-rat, Spalax leucodon; white-toothed cowry, Cypraea leucodon; white-toothed woodrat, Neotoma leucodon; also see albidens |
leucodon |
leucurus | G | white-tailed | white-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura; white-tailed robin, Cinclidium leucurum; white-tailed stonechat, Saxicola leucurus |
leucurus – leucura – leucurum |
limosus | L | muddy | limosa harlequin frog, Atelopus limosus; mud amnicola, Amnicola limosus |
limosus – limosa – limosum |
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, |
longus – longa – longum –All pages with titles beginning with longi |
longicaudatus | L | long-tailed | long-tailed pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus; longtail catfish, Olyra longicaudata; longtail tadpole shrimp Triops longicaudatus |
longicaudatus – longicaudata – longicaudatum |
longicollis | L | long-necked | eastern long-necked turtle, Chelodina longicollis | longicollis – longicolle |
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 |
longifolius – longifolia – longifolium |
longirostris | L | long beak | longsnout blacksmelt , Dolicholagus longirostris |
longirostris – longirostre |
luctuosus | L | sorrowful, mournful | forget-me-not bug, Sehirus luctuosus; white-shouldered tanager, Tachyphonus luctuosus; four-spotted moth, Tyta luctuosa |
luctuosus – luctuosa – luctuosum |
luminosus | L | glowing | cucubano, Ignelater luminuosus; New Zealand glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa; striped flying squid, Eucleoteuthis luminosa |
luminuosus – luminuosa – luminuosum |
luteus | L | yellow, saffron-colored | yellow mariposa lily, Calochortus luteus; yellow vetch, Vicia lutea; red-billed leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea |
luteus – lutea – luteum |
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 |
macra – macrum |
macroura | G | long-tailed | hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura | macroura |
maculatus | L | spotted | tiger quoll, Dasyurus maculatus; spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius | maculatus – maculata – maculatum |
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 | madagascariensis |
magnus | L | great, large | streaked spiderhunter, Arachnothera magna | magnus – magna – magnum |
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 | marginatus – marginata – marginatum |
maritima | L | of the sea | , Juncus maritimus, | maritima – maritimum – 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 |
mauretanicus – mauretanica – mauretanicum |
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 |
megacephalus – megacephala – megacephalum |
mel | L | honey | black sage, Salvia mellifera; Nephelium melliferum; western honey bee, Apis mellifera | |
melano- | G μελανός (melanós) | black | black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris | melanus – melana |
melanocephalus | G | black-headed | black-headed fleabane, Erigeron melanocephalus; black-headed snake, Tantilla melanocephala; ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum | melanocephalus – melanocephala – melanocephalum |
melanophyllus | G | black-leaved | Melanophylla; Melanophyllum | melanophyllus – melanophylla – melanophyllum |
melanops | G | black-eyed, black-faced | black-eyed blue, Glaucopsyche melanops; black-fronted dotterel, Elseyornis melanops; gray spiny mouse, Scolomys melanops | melanops |
mephitis | L | bad odor | striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis; yellow-pigmented bacteria, Luteimonas mephitis | |
meridionalis | L | southern | Zimbabwe grey baboon tarantula , Ceratogyrus meridionalis |
meridionale – 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 | microphyllus – microphylla – microphyllum |
minimus | L | smallest | least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus | |
minor | L | smaller | great frigatebird, Fregata minor | |
minuta | L | small | harvest mouse, Micromys minutus; , Epilobium minutum,little willowherb |
minuta – minutus – minutum |
mitra | LG | headband, turban or mitre | Psittacara mitratus, mitred conure; Presbytis mitrata , mitered langur |
All pages with titles beginning with Mitra – mitratus – mitrata – mitratum |
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 | monoica |
monospermus | L | Having a single sperm cell | one-seed juniper Juniperus monosperma | monospermus – monosperma – monospermum |
monspeliensis | L | from Montpellier | Montpellier cistus, Cistus monspeliensis | monspeliensis – monspessulanus – monspessulana – monspessulanum |
montanus | L mons | of the mountains | tree sparrow , Passer montanus |
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 | Cyrtidium naevium , a fungus |
naevius – naevia – naevium |
nanos | G νᾶνος (nânos) L nanus | dwarf |
, Sorex nanus | 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 |
neomexicanus – neomexicana – neomexicanum |
niger, nigr- | L | black | black skimmer, Rynchops niger; black pine, Pinus nigra; black softshell turtle, Nilssonia nigricans; black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes; black-spined Atlantic tree-rat, Phyllomys nigrispinus See also: ater |
nigra – nigras – nigrus – nigrum – nigrescens |
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 |
nipponensis – nipponense – nippon |
nitidus | L nitere | shining | Baja cape kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula nitida; , Liolaemus nitidusMauritius blue pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissima; shining pea clam, Pisidium nitidum; shining tree iguana |
nitidus – nitida – nitidum |
nix | L | snow | snowy primrose, Primula nivalis; , Helianthus niveus;snowy sunflower |
nivalis – niveus – nivea – niveum – nivosus |
nonus | L | ninth | honey fungus , Armillaria nabsnona |
|
norvegicus | L | from Norway | highland cudweed , Gnaphalium norvegicum; |
norvegicus – norvegica – 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 | New England aster , Symphyotrichum novae-angliae |
novaeangliae – novae-angliae |
novaehollandiae | L | from New Holland (Australia) | emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae; New Holland rattlepod, Crotalaria novae-hollandiae; Sepia novaehollandiae, a cuttlefish | novaehollandiae – novae-hollandiae |
novaeseelandiae | L | from New Zealand | red bidibid , Acaena novae-zelandiae |
novaeseelandiae – novae-zelandiae – novae-zeelandiae – novaezeelandiae – novaezelandiae |
noveboracensis | L | from New York (Novum Eboracum) | New York fern, Thelypteris noveboracensis; , Seiurus noveboracensisnorthern waterthrush |
noveboracensis – noveboracense |
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 |
All pages with titles containing nucifera |
nutans | L | nodding | nodding madia, Harmonia nutans; nodding spurge, Euphorbia nutans |
nutans |
O
Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
---|---|---|---|---|
obscurus | L | dark |
rare clubmoss , Lycopodium obscurum |
obscurus – obscura – obscurum |
obsoletus | L | obsolete, degenerate | Pantherophis obsoletus; Great Plains skink, Plestiodon obsoletus | obsoletus – obsoletum |
occidentalis | L | western | eastern arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis; western clover , Trifolium occidentale |
occidentalis – occidentale |
ocean | G ὠκεανός (ōkeanós) | ocean | oceanic gecko, Gehyra oceanica; Mediterranean tapeweed, Posidonia oceanica |
oceanicus – 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 |
officinalis – officinale |
oleraceus | L | used as a vegetable | common sowthistle , Sonchus oleraceus |
oleraceus – oleracea – oleraceum |
oleum, olearis | L | oil | Omphalotus olearius, jack o'lantern mushroom | |
ommato- | G ὄμμᾰ (ómma), gen. ὄμμᾰτος (ómmatos) | eye | Ommatokoita, Ommatochila, Ommatospila | All pages with titles beginning with Ommato |
ophis | G ὄφις (óphis) | serpent | Carphophis vermis, western wormsnake | |
ophrys | G ὀφρύς (ophrús) | eyebrow | , butterfly genus | All pages with titles beginning with Ophry |
-ophthalmus | G ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós) | eye | 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 | orientalis – orientale |
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 | ovatus – ovata – ovatum |
P
Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
---|---|---|---|---|
pachy- | G παχύς (pakhús) | thick, stout | Pachycephalosaurus | |
palaemon | G Παλαίμων (Palaímōn) | Palaemon, a sea god whose name means "wrestler" | Palaemonetes , shrimp genera |
palaemon |
pallidus | L | pale | Dalmatian iris , Iris pallida |
pallidus – pallida – pallidum |
palustris | L paluster | of the marsh | mugger crocodile, Crocodylus palustris; marsh marigold, Caltha palustris; Sphagnurus paluster, mushroom; | palustris – paluster – palustre – palustrium |
pan- panto- | G πᾶν (pân) | all | Pancratium (a flower); Pangaea | |
paradoxus | L, from G παράδοξος (parádoxos) | contrary to expectation, strange, uncharacteristic | few-flowered garlic , Allium paradoxum |
paradoxus – paradoxa – paradoxum |
parilis | L | equal | Malmesbury pincushion , Leucospermum parile |
parilis – parile |
parviflorus | L | small-flowered | thimbleberry , Rubus parviflorus |
parviflorus – parviflora – parviflorum |
parvifolius | L | small-leaved | Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia; littleleaf ceanothus, Ceanothus parvifolius; small-leaved lomatium, Lomatium parvifolium |
parvifolius – parvifolia – parvifolium |
parvus | L | small | dwarf catshark, Asymbolus parvus; mountain pygmy possum, Burramys parvus; small onion, Allium parvum |
parvus – 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 | pelagicus – pelagica – pelagicum |
penn- | L penna | feather, wing | Darwin's rhea, Rhea pennata; great auk, Pinguinus impennis |
|
penta- | G πέντε (pénte) | five | five-fingered skink, Chalcides pentadactylus | |
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), Ichthyophaga , 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 | phenolicus – phenolica – phenolicum |
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)[5] |
|
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 |
pictus – picta – pictum |
platy- | G πλατύς (platús) | flat and broad | flathead trout, Salmo platycephalus; platypus |
|
pleio- | G | larger, greater in quantity | Burdekin plum, sweet plum, tulip plum, Pleiogynium timoriense | |
plicatilis | L | flexible, pliable | Cormohipparion plicatile , an extinct horse |
plicatilis – plicatile |
plumosum | L | feathered | big tarweed, Blepharizonia plumosa; buzzer midge, Chironomus plumosus | plumosus – plumosa – plumosum |
pod- | G πούς (poús) | foot, leg, stem | red-footed spikesedge, 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 |
poliocephalus – poliocephala – 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 |
pomum – pomifer – pomifera – pomonella |
ponticus | G Πόντος (Póntos) | Pontic; from Pontus, Turkey | , Artemisia pontica | ponticus – pontica – ponticum |
praecox | L | early | neon rainbow, Melanotaenia praecox; wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox |
praecox |
praestans | L | excelling | Kamchatka bilberry, Vaccinium praestans; goliath webcap mushroom, Cortinarius praestans; (a butterfly), Ypthima praestans; (a ground beetle), Lesticus praestans; Tulipa praestans |
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 |
praeustus – praeusta – praeustum |
prātum | L | meadow | , Cuphophyllus pratensis | pratensis – pratense – praticola |
princeps | L | first, leader, principal, princely | princely spiny-tailed lizard, Uromastyx princeps; American pika , Ochotona princeps |
princeps |
proto- | G πρῶτος (prôtos) | first | Protozoa | |
pruinosus | L | pruinose, "frosted", covered in white granules | dotted blue-eyed grass , Sisyrinchium pruinosum |
pruinosus – pruinosa – pruinosum |
pruriens | L | itching | velvet bean, Mucuna pruriens | pruriens |
pseudo- | L G ψευδής (pseudḗs) | false or fake | Brazilian false rice rat, Pseudoryzomys simplex; , Pseuderanthemum variabilepastel flower |
|
psych- | G ψυχή (psychḗ) | mind, soul | psychedelic | All pages with titles beginning with Psy |
psychrophilus | G ψυχρός (psukhrós) | cold-loving | bacterial rod, Flavobacterium psychrophilum; bacterium, Geobacter psychrophilus; whip-lash squid, Mastigoteuthis psychrophila |
psychrophilus – psychrophila – psychrophilum |
pterus, -pter | G πτερόν (pterón) | wing, feather | Coleoptera |
|
ptyo- | G πτύον (ptyon) | fan | fan-fingered geckos, Ptyodactylus; crag martin , Ptyonoprogne |
All pages with titles beginning with Ptyo |
puberulus | L | having short, soft hairs | red berry stick plant , Teucrium puberulum |
puberulus – puberula – puberulum |
pubescens | L | downy | downy oak , Quercus pubescens |
pubescens |
pugil | L pugil | a boxer | fighting conch, Strombus pugilis | pugilis |
pulchellus | L | pretty little[6] | beautiful sunbird, Cinnyris pulchella; green pygmy goose, Nettapus pulchellus |
pulchellus – pulchella – pulchellum |
pumilus | L | dwarf | Siberian elm , Ulmus pumila |
pumila – pumilus – pumilum |
punctatus | L | spotted, marked with punctures | thirteen-spotted lady beetle , Hippodamia tredecimpunctata |
punctatus – punctata – punctatum |
pungens | L pungens | pungent | blue spruce, Picea pungens; pungent slippery jack, Suillus pungens |
pungens |
purpurascens | L | somewhat purple | veiled purple hygrophorus, Hygrophorus purpurascens | purpurascens |
purpureus | L purpureus | purple | , Haemorhous purpureus | purpureus – purpurea – purpureum |
pygmaeus | L, from the Pygmaeī | pygmy, dwarf | alpine glacier poppy , Papaver pygmaeum |
pygmaeus – pygmaea – pygmaeum |
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; , Lysimachia quadrifolia (four-leaved)fourspot butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus; whorled loosestrife |
All pages with titles beginning with Quadri |
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 | radix – radicans – radicatus – radicis |
rāmus | L | branch | branched draba, Draba ramosissima; branched murex, Chicoreus ramosus |
ramosus – ramosa – ramulosus |
regalis | L | royal | Synalpheus regalis; regal moth, Citheronia regalis; royal lily, Lilium regale |
regalis – regale |
repandus | L repandus | curved upwards, turned up | Peruvian apple cactus , Cereus repandus |
repandus – repanda – repandum |
repens | L | creeping, crawling (rēpēns) | creeping buttercup , Ranunculus repens |
|
repens | L | unexpected (rĕpēns) | white clover , Trifolium repens |
|
reptans, rept- | L | creeping, crawling | Reptilia |
reptans |
reticulata | L | reticulated | mandarin orange, Citrus reticulata | reticulatus – reticulata – reticulatum |
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) | |
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 | rigidus – rigida – rigidum |
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 | rostralis – rostrale |
rostratus | L rōstrātus | having a beak | beaked sedge, Carex rostrata; beaked yucca, Yucca rostrata; Caribbean sharp-nose puffer, Canthigaster rostrata; longnose surgeonfish, Zebrasoma rostratum |
rostratus – rostrata – rostratum |
ruber, rubr- | L ruber | red | , Piranga rubra | ruber – rubra – rubrum – rubellus – rubrescens |
ruder- | L rūdus, rūderis | rubbish | Cannabis ruderalis; Porophyllum ruderale; ruderal bumblebee, Bombus ruderatus |
ruderalis – ruderale – ruderatus |
rudis, rud- | L | rough, rude | coarse chameleon, Trioceros rudis; pied kingfisher Ceryle rudis; rough gecko, Naultinus rudis; rough mabuya, Eutropis rudis |
rudis – rude |
rufus, ruf- | L | red, reddish | red wolf, Canis rufus; rufous rubber cup, Galiella rufa |
rufus – rufa – rufum – rufescens |
rupestris | L | living on cliffs or rocks | alpine tea-tree , Leptospermum rupestre |
rupestris – rupestre |
rupicola | L | cliff dweller | Diplacus rupicola, Death Valley monkeyflower; Narcissus rupicola; Tabernaemontana rupicola | All pages with titles containing rupicola |
russus | L | reddish | Lophocampa russus, a moth; Toxitiades russus, a beetle; Schistura russa, a stone loach; Steccherinum russum, a fungus | russus – russa – russum |
russulus | L | little reddish one | pinkmottle woodwax, Hygrophorus russula; Bryum russulum , a moss |
russulus – russula – russulum |
S
Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
---|---|---|---|---|
sanctus | L | sacred | See sanctus (species) | sanctus |
sanguis | L | blood | bloodroot , Sanguinaria canadensis |
sanguinis |
sapiens | L | wise | recent Homo sapiens sapiens ("wise wise man") |
|
saponaria | L | soapy[7][8] | soapworts (Saponaria spp.), soapbark (Quillaja saponaria), Ramaria flavosaponaria | saponaria |
sativus | L | sown, cultivated | oat, Avena sativa; pea, Pisum sativum; rice, Oryza sativa |
sativus – sativa – sativum |
saura, -saur | G σαῦρος (saûros) | lizard, reptile | lancetfish, Alepisaurus; Maiasaura (dinosaur) | |
scriptus | L | written, scribbled, scrawled | long hoverfly, Sphaerophoria scripta; , a catfishGrammatophyllum scriptum, an orchid; Steindachneridion scriptum |
scriptus – scripta – scriptum |
sculptus | L | sculpted | reed-stemmed orchid, Epidendrum sculptum; sculpted lanternshark, Etmopterus sculptus; sculpted puffball, Calvatia sculpta |
sculptus – sculpta – sculptum |
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 |
septentrionalis – septentrionale |
setosus | L | bristly or shaggy | setosus – setosa – setosum | |
sidero- | G σίδηρος (sídēros) | iron | Siderostigma, Sideroxylon; lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros | All pages with titles beginning with Sidero |
silvestris, sylvestris silvaticus | L | from woodland or forest; wild | snowdrop anemone, Anemone sylvestris; , Lithobates sylvaticusWood frog |
silvestris, sylvestris – silvestre, sylvestre – silvaticus, sylvaticus |
similis | L | similar | Callinectes similis | similis |
simplex | L | simple | see List of species named simplex | simplex |
sinensis | L | from China | tea, Camellia sinensis | sinensis – sinense |
smaragdinus | G σμάραγδος (smáragdos) | emerald | , snail genus | smaragdinus – smaragdina – smaragdinum – Smaragdia |
speciosus | L | showy | queen's crape-myrtle, Lagerstroemia speciosa; Japanese lily, Lilium speciosum |
speciosus – speciosa – 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 |
|
stichus, sticticus | G στίχος (stíkhos) | line, file | Ochlerotatus sticticus, a mosquito; western erete, Eretes sticticus , DissostichusAcalolepta stictica, a beetle; Punctelia stictica, a lichen Trypetisoma sticticum, a fly; Diorygma sticticum, a lichen Toothfish |
sticticus – stictica – sticticum |
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 |
striatus – striata – striatum |
strictus | L | straight, narrow, erect | Nardus stricta, , Polytrichum strictum
bog haircap moss |
strictus – stricta – 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 | grooved helmet-orchid , Nematoceras sulcatum |
sulcatus – sulcata – sulcatum |
symbio | G συμβίωσις (sumbíōsis) | symbiosis | Symbiontida |
symbio |
syriacus | L | Syrian |
common milkweed , Asclepias syriacus |
syriacus – syriaca – syriacum |
T
Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
---|---|---|---|---|
tardus, tardi- | L | slow, late | 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 |
tenax |
tenuis | L | thin, slender, fine | slender rush, Juncus tenuis; , Polygonum tenueplealeaf knotweed |
tenuis – tenue |
terrestris, terrestre | L | terrestrial | large earth bumblebee, Bombus terrestris bent orchid, Geodorum terrestre |
terrestris – terrestre |
tetra- | G τετρα- | four | Tetrapoda |
|
therium, ther- | G θηρίον (thēríon), θήρ (thḗr) | beast, wild animal | giant ground sloth, Megatherium americanum; stinkpot turtle, Sternotherus odoratus; gelada, Theropithicus gelada |
|
timidus | L | shy, timid | dwarf three-toed slider, Lerista timida; Elysia timida, a sea slug; Zodarion timidum , an ant spider |
timidus – timida – timidum |
tinctorius | L | for dyeing | woad , Isatis tinctoria |
tinctorius – tinctoria – tinctorium |
tomentosus | L | furry | bristle-tail filefish, Acreichthys tomentosus; fuzzy mock-orange, Philadelphus tomentosus; woollyleaf ceanothus, Ceanothus tomentosus |
tomentosus – tomentosa – tomentosum |
trachy- | G τραχύς (trachys) | rough | Trachyscorpia, fish genus; Trachyaretaon, insect genus | All pages with titles beginning with trachy |
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 |
tripartitus – tripartita |
tristis | L | sad, disagreeable, bitter, foul | 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 |
trivialis – triviale |
troglodytes | L G τρωγλοδύτης (trōglodútēs) | cave-dweller | chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes; , Troglodytes troglodyteswren |
|
tropicalis | L | tropical |
Candida tropicalis (yeast); Rostraureum tropicale (fungus) |
tropicalis – tropicale |
truncatus | L | truncated, foreshortened | truncate leek orchid , Prasophyllum truncatum |
truncatus – truncata – truncatum |
trygon | G τρῡγών (trygōn) | turtledove |
Trugon , dove genera |
trygon – trugon – All pages with titles beginning with trygo |
typhlo- | G τυφλός (typhlós) | blind | Typhlobarbus nudiventris, fish species; Typhlochactidae, scorpion family | All pages with titles beginning with typhl |
tyranno- | G τύραννος (túrannos) | tyrant, tyrannical | ; |
U
Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
---|---|---|---|---|
ulmus | L | elm | Ulmus |
|
ulos | G οὖλος (oûlos) | woolly | Uloborus; Ulotrichi; Ulotrichopus | All pages with titles beginning with Ulo |
unus | L | one |
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 | vaginalis |
variabilis | L | variable | grey bunting, Emberiza variabilis | variabilis – variabile |
variegatus | L | variegated | variegated laughingthrush, Garrulax variegatus; croton, Codiaeum variegatum | variegatus – variegata – 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 |
varius – varia – varium |
velox, velocis | L | swift | swift fox, Vulpes velox; Velociraptor | velox |
ventralis | L | ventral, of the belly | Hispaniolan parrot, Amazona ventralis; , Bradypodion ventralesouthern dwarf chameleon |
ventralis – ventrale |
venustus | L | beautiful | magnificent leafy moss , Plagiomnium venustum |
venustus – venusta – venustum |
vernicosa | L | varnished | varnished maxillaria, Maxillaria vernicosa | vernicosus – vernicosa – vernicosum |
vernus, vernalis | L | spring (season) | spring pheasant's eye, Adonis vernalis; , Helenium vernalespring sneezeweed |
vernalis – vernale |
verrucosus | L | rough-skinned | reef stonefish , Synanceia verrucosa |
verrucosus – verrucosa – verrucosum |
versicolor | L | many-colored | varied honeyeater, Lichenostomus versicolor; Vietnam mouse-deer, Tragulus versicolor | versicolor |
verticillata | L | whorled | spaghetti bryozoan, Amathia verticillata; whorled plectranthus, Plectranthus verticillatus | verticillatus – verticillata – verticillatum |
verus | L | true, genuine | lady's bedstraw , Galium verum |
verus – verum |
victoriae | L | Victorian | Victoria's bar, Cigaritis victoriae | victoriae |
villosus | L [9] | 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 |
villosus – villosa – villosum |
virginiana | L | Virginia | Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana; Rosa virginiana, the Virginia rose | virginiana – virginianum |
viridis | L | green | green alder, Alnus viridis; , Labrus viridisgreen wrasse |
viridis – viride |
virosus | L | poisonous | cowbane, Cicuta virosa; poisonous lettuce, Lactuca virosa | virosus – virosa |
viticola (vitis-cola) |
L | grape vine inhabitant or cultivator |
Schizomyia viticola |
viticola |
volans | L | flying | flying dragon, Draco volans; southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans | volans |
vulgaris | L | common | common privet , Ligustrum vulgare |
vulgaris – 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 |
All pages with titles beginning with Xanth |
zebratus | L | cross-striped | Kolombatovic's goby, Chromogobius zebratus | |
zoster | G ζωστήρ (zōstḗr) | belt, girdle | white-eyes, Zosterops; Zosterophyllum; Zosterocarpus abyssicola | All pages with titles beginning with Zoster |
zygos | G ζυγός | joined | Zygoptera |
All pages with titles beginning with Zygo |
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
- Latin names of cities
References
- ISBN 9781786399052– via Google Books.
- ^ Chuck Griffith. "Dictionary of Botanical Epithets". Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2005.
- ^ "Rhus glabra L." Northern Arizona University. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
- ^ "Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, G, Gracchus, grăcĭlĭpes". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-8493-2673-8. Archivedfrom the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short (1879). "pulchellus". A Latin Dictionary.
- ^ Saponaria. Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Flora of North America.
- ^ Griffith, Chuck (2005). "Dictionary of Botanical Epithets". Dictionary of Botanical Epithets. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
saponarius saponaria saponarium soapy sapo sapon noun/m soap (from German) arius ari adj adjective suffix for nouns or numbers: connected to or possessed by
- ^ "Charlton T. Lewis, An Elementary Latin Dictionary, villōsus". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.