it's all Greek to me

The-Wolf · Post by **The-Wolf** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:06 am

Hi all
can anyone shed some light on what Botia actually means, where it came from, who first used it?

also same goes for
Misgurnus
Syncrossus
Pangio
Yasuhikotakia

thanks in advance

Mad Duff · Post by **Mad Duff** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:53 am

Botia is a regional asian native word meaning warrior or soldier, which refers to the spine under each eye. For instance Chromo means colour so Chromobotia translates to coloured warrior

I know you didnt mention Sinibotia but Sini is greak for Chinese so Sinibotia translates to Chinese Warrior

Misgurnus means not a gurnard so for the Weather Loach - Misgurnus anguillicaudatus the anguillicaudatus means tail like an eel.

Graeme Robson · Post by **Graeme Robson** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:03 am

Yasuhikotakia is named after a Japanese ichthyologist: Yasuhiko Taki

The-Wolf · Post by **The-Wolf** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:47 am

thanks guys

YellowFinned · Post by **YellowFinned** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:59 am

I have noticed that whereas most people when they name fish find some interesting or tenuous description in Latin or Greek, the Japanese name fish after themselves.

palaeodave · Post by **palaeodave** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:45 pm

Its against the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) to name a taxon after yourself. If a taxon bears a persons name its usually in honour. Happens all the time in the West, usually at species level.

Littlelady · Post by **Littlelady** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:47 pm

What an interesting thread

I really like that - 'warrior'......no wonder my alpha loach behaves with such self importance and pride

YellowFinned · Post by **YellowFinned** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:38 am

palaeodave wrote:Its against the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) to name a taxon after yourself. If a taxon bears a persons name its usually in honour. Happens all the time in the West, usually at species level.

Wow! An international code.

What about Kubotai. How did he get away with it then? Or, did he discover it, and the get his mate to name it in his honour?

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:53 am

YellowFinned wrote: What about Kubotai. How did he get away with it then? Or, did he discover it, and the get his mate to name it in his honour?

I believe Dr Maurice Kottelat was the describer, and he named the fish in honour of Katsuma Kubota.

Emma

YellowFinned · Post by **YellowFinned** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:39 am

Emma Turner wrote:
YellowFinned wrote: What about Kubotai. How did he get away with it then? Or, did he discover it, and the get his mate to name it in his honour?
I believe Dr Maurice Kottelat was the describer, and he named the fish in honour of Katsuma Kubota.

Emma

Exactly.

palaeodave · Post by **palaeodave** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:01 pm

YellowFinned wrote:
Wow! An international code.

Ohhhhhhhhhh yes.

http://www.iczn.org/iczn/index.jsp

If anybody is having trouble sleeping, have a look through that. I'm afraid to say I know it intimately. Comes with the joys of naming new species.

The-Wolf · Post by **The-Wolf** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:30 am

I'm still needing a definition of
Syncrossus and Pangio

can ayone shead soe light on these two?

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