Me having a rant about some of the Greek & Latin animal names.
This is based on the same source as the memes I’ve been posting for the last few days.
Category: Animal Names
Animal Names. Episode 6c, Bird Heaven.
… which makes me wonder: Do moa walk around bird heaven asking “Does extinction make my bum look big?” or is it a case of “Dodaars don’t tell?”
Yes, I really did write this whole series just to get that ghastly pun in, hopefully you laughed & that’s what comedy is about.
Come see me on stage.
Animal Names. Episode 6b, Dodo.
… They called it “Diornis” from Latin “Terrible Bird” but some claim it means “Like a Dodo” …
The only things the Moa & the Dodo have in common are they are both extinct flightless birds.
At least the name Dodo makes some sense.
It’s probably from the Dutch “Dodaars”, meaning “Fat-bottom.” …
Animal Names. Episode 6a, Birds.
Then the English came to New Zealand and were shown the bones and feathers & even some preserved skin of what we believe to be tallest bird that ever walked the Earth.
Did they name it for being the tallest?
You must know the answer by now.
“No!”
What about the long neck & the small head? Ah, we already did that in episode 4.
“Of course not!”
They called it “Diornis” …
Animal Names. Episode 5, Webbed feet.
Animal Names. Episode 4, Lizard.
While Europe was busy conquering the world, the Americans dug up the fossils of the largest animals to ever walk the Earth.
Did they name them for being the largest?
You know the answer, of course not.
What about the long neck and tiny head or the tail just the same but no head or the secondary brain in its arse?
NEVER! They named it “Sauropod” meaning “Lizard foot” like every other four footed reptile.
Animal Names. Episode 3b: Largest cont.
… and then the French decided to call all the big herbivores “Pachyderme” from Greek pakhúdérma (thick+skin).
Because you need a thick skin to deal with the French?
Or was it the Romans?
Animal Names. Episode 3a, Largest cont.
… What about its sticky-outie teeth?
Its flexible nose?
Its legs like umbrella stands?
No! No! No!
So what did they call it?
Elephas, possibly from Phoenician through Greek and we have no proof what that meant. …
(It possibly meant “Ivory”, Homer used it as such)
Animal Names. Episode 3, Largest.
Then Hannibal introduced the Romans to the largest living land animal.
Did they name it for being the largest?
Of course not, too easy.
Did they name it for its big flappy ears? No. …
Animal Names. Episode 2, Pot Belly.
It started with the Greeks.
They went to north Africa & were shown this huge beast on the riverbanks.
Did they name it for its pot belly? Too easy.
How about its fat legs? Peg like teeth? No, no!
They called it hippopótamos: Water horse.
Love to see you saddle that buster!