Comedian, Playwright, Director, Producer
… 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.” …
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” …
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.
… 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?
… 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)
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. …
