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: Stammeria goffarti
Don’t get it? Goffarti. How can you not get it?
What is it? A nematode worm.
Where was it found? Europe.
When was it first named? 1949
Who deserves the credit? German nematodologist, H.G. Sachs about whom we know very little.
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Is there a picture? Not of Stammeria goffarti, but nematodes do have the pleasing trait of all looking pretty much the same (which will make them a bugger to classify for the people who reckon there could be as many as 100 million species of nematode.) So instead of the soil-living Stammeria, here's a nice pic of Strongyloides ratti, a parasite of rats. Lovely, Check out some other weird species names here.
Null's other regular features:
Monday: Phunny Phobias
Wednesday: Doctor Doctor
Thursday: Peculiar Periodicals
Friday: End of week timewasters
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