Creatures with scientific names that betray how frustrated the scientists got trying to sort out their taxonomy.
Probolomyrmex (multiple species)
Camponotus confusus
There have to be more of these. I'd love to know the full story behind the names. Really there is a place in the world for a book that just goes into interesting taxonomic controversies and frustrations.
Have you encountered any scientific names that hint at someone pulling out their hair?
Probolomyrmex longinodus are a species of ant that nests in snail shells filled with soil. The entire genus is cryptic. Alex Wild has one of the few photos of a living ant:
@futurebird I don't have what you're looking for, but I like to take every remotely relevant opportunity to mention Corvus Ossifragus, which is such a metal name for what we boringly call the "Fish Crow." (Tho I gotta admit, the bones are some of my favorite parts of a good ol' salmon!)
Taxon differentiation in Urtica from Australia and New Zealand initially appears to be uncomplicated, with taxa being easy to distinguish. However, a revision of the type material, more recent collections and a comparison of Australian and New Zealand material shows that three of the names are misapplied.
The paper is paywalled but I'm guessing there was some confusion in figuring this out.
Ba Humbugi - Species of snail.
Draculoides bramstokeri - Species of spider.
Yoda purpurate - Species of worm.
Pieza pi - Species of fly.
Agra vation - Speciers of beetle.
Scapatia beyonceae - Species of horse fly.
Spongiforma squarepantsii - Species of fungus.
and...
Pison eu - Species of wasp.
Sound very dodgy to me, but I want so much for them to real.
@futurebird There is Irritator, a dinosaur. So named not because of a difficult taxonomy but because it was discovered the fossil had been artificially altered and it wasn't what it was initially thought to be.
Dermophis donaldtrumpi was given its name after the Rainforest Trust held an auction for the naming rights. The company EnviroBuild won the auction and proposed naming the species in protest against Trump's environmental policies and views.
@rmflight@futurebird I bet there are some examples at curioustaxonomy.net! I do know of some names that reflect problems/frustration/danger in collecting the type specimens.
I have a few books about English language oddities that are pretty dear. They're funny. Bet this would sell pretty well even to folks without much knowledge in the biology field. I know I'd buy it. (hint)