Nutty Nomenclature
All species of organism are given their own specific name by the taxonomist who first describes them. Every now and again the taxonomists allow themselves to have a little bit of fun. This is our guide to some more mischievously named species.
Name: Papasula abbotti costelloi
Don’t get it? Then watch this clip and enjoy two comedy legends at work.
What is it? An extinct subspecies of the wonderfully named Abbott's booby - one of the world's rarest birds.
Where were they found? The Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific.
When was it first named? 1988.
Who deserves the credit? David Steadman, curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History, and his colleagues Susan Schubel and Dominique Pahlavan.
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Is there a picture? The subspecies itself is extinct and known only from a few bones. The other subspecies is still with us, but only just. It only breeds on Christmas Island and has an estimated population of just 2500 birds. That's what this photograph is of. There are other boobies in the world who's existence isn't as precarious as the Abbott's variety. The title image is of a masked booby; also in the family are red-footed and blue-footed boobies. Booby is a funny word.
Check out some other strange species names here.
More regular features:
Monday: Phunny Phobias
Wednesday: Doctor Doctor
Thursday: Peculiar Periodicals
Friday: End of week timewasters
Title image: M Nota
Abbott's Booby: Aus govt
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