Interesting animal names

[foz]

From reading a discussion in the UK fourms about the changes of animal names (for example change of african wild dogs to painted dogs) It got me thinking what is the most interesting, coolest sounding names out there in the animal kingdom.

But what's in a name anyway? In zoos a name can be something to add mystery or attraction to a species; it can build an image in the minds of visitors about an animal. Whilst the animal may be completley different to what they imagines it still invites investigation and intrigue for example the mountain chicken.

I think cloud runners Have a really cool name. It makes them seem magical and mythical.

 

[Maguari]

One of my favourite common names is Screaming Hairy Armadillo (Chaetophractus vellerosus). If that's not a cool name I don't know what is!

 

[Zambar]

I think cloud runners Have a really cool name. It makes them seem magical and mythical.

I think it was in the Doctor Who novel The Last Dodo where the Doctor mentioned how much he loved that name.

Naked Mole Rat just shows how lovely these creatures are when you read it!

 

[redpanda]

A latin name, but I love the unimaginativeness of gorilla gorilla gorilla.

 

[ZooLeopard]

Cuckoo cochin chicken for me

 

[Malayan Tapir]

lake titicaca saggy skinned frog - must be one of the best

 

[Chlidonias]

I abhor it when well-established names get changed for PC reasons, eg:
killer whale to orca
Cape/African hunting dog to painted dog
oldsquaw to long-tailed duck
squawfish to pike-minnow (surely one of the clumsiest attempts at being PC!)

I've always known "cloud-runners" as cloud rats

re the screaming hairy armadillo, does anyone know how it gets that name?

 

[PAT]

Pink fairy Armadillo's sound like something that would come with a Barbie Doll set to me.

And another one that's change is fairy penguins to little penguins. Does anyone actually know why?

 

[Chlidonias]

And another one that's change is fairy penguins to little penguins. Does anyone actually know why?

its offensive to homosexuals (seriously)

one of the more etymologically-confused common names I've come across is the right whale dolphin (southern right whale dolphin Lissodelphis peronii and northern right whale dolphin L. borealis). How can anyone say "I just saw a southern right whale dolphin" and not sound stupid?

 

[Shorts]

its offensive to homosexuals (seriously)

Says who? Has there been a survey?

Some good candidates for the coolest name so far, my nomination is The Bastard Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys bastardi).

 

[Kudu21]

I abhor it when well-established names get changed for PC reasons, eg:
killer whale to orca
Cape/African hunting dog to painted dog
oldsquaw to long-tailed duck
squawfish to pike-minnow (surely one of the clumsiest attempts at being PC!)

I've always known "cloud-runners" as cloud rats

re the screaming hairy armadillo, does anyone know how it gets that name?

They just got a pair of these at my local zoo!

Anyways...They get their name from the loud squeeling noise they make when threatened, and well they're hairy xD

 

[Maguari]

I abhor it when well-established names get changed for PC reasons, eg:
killer whale to orca
Cape/African hunting dog to painted dog

With you there.

oldsquaw to long-tailed duck

See, I've always known them as Long-tailed Duck (maybe a European thing?).

its offensive to homosexuals (seriously)

Says who? Has there been a survey?

I strongly suspect no-one has ever been offended by that. If someone's decided that anyone would be then they are, I think, very wrong.

Some good candidates for the coolest name so far, my nomination is The Bastard Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys bastardi).

That is a good one.

 

[Zoogoer2000]

Shoebill storks has always been an interesting name too me

 

[Chlidonias]

And another one that's change is fairy penguins to little penguins. Does anyone actually know why?

its offensive to homosexuals (seriously)

Says who? Has there been a survey?

I strongly suspect no-one has ever been offended by that. If someone's decided that anyone would be then they are, I think, very wrong.

in case anyone misunderstands what I was saying there, it wasn't that the name "fairy penguin" is offensive to homosexuals but rather that it was decided by the PC brigade that it was. Very different things of course. Fairy penguin is a great name, although I don't use it myself because I'm a NZer


re the oldsquaw/long-tailed duck, in Europe long-tailed duck has always been the common name but I just prefer the American name because it sounds far more interesting. The name comes from the loud calls of the bird (although produced by the male rather than the female). The reason it (and all other animal-, plant- and place-names with the word "squaw") was "officially" changed was because apparently "squaw" doesn't mean "woman" but rather a woman's genitalia, the word having originally been used incorrectly by the first settlers.

 

[Arizona Docent]

As far as I know, every zoo in America calls them African Wild Dogs. I never see or hear anyone calling them painted dogs.

As for a cool name from one of our native American animals, how about hellbender?

 

[Dibatag]

I like the Tiny Fat Mouse Steatomys parvus

 

[mstickmanp]

How about the Goldenpalace.com Monkey (callicebus aureipalatii).

Edit: also, there is some beetles with funny names like Agra vation and Agra cadabra.

 

[Pertinax]

As far as I know, every zoo in America calls them African Wild Dogs. I never see or hear anyone calling them painted dogs.

That is interesting as I've never liked this name change. What is the point of it? They have always been Cape/African Hunting Dogs. Who/what dictated the change to 'Painted'. Is it scientific/official or is it just a popularist 'fad'?

The description 'Painted' is probably more evocative/interesting for zoo-visitors no doubt but I still don't like this change, any more than I like seeing them 'up close and personal'...

 

[Hix]

I have a vague recollection that the change was to improve their image. 'Hunting' Dogs suggests an animal that hunts and kills, whereas 'Painted' says something else, hopefully something more interesting. It was to get more public support for their conservation.

I thought it was a stupid idea myself; I learnt Cape Hunting Dog when I was younger and that's what I still call them.



Hix

 

[Pertinax]

I have a vague recollection that the change was to improve their image. 'Hunting' Dogs suggests an animal that hunts and kills, whereas 'Painted' says something else,

One or two films have featured them as 'Painted Wolves' a rather fanciful name which maybe is the root of the name change. Or does the Latin name Lycaon pictus refer to it? (I don't know)

Give me 'Hunting Dog' anytime- that is what they are and that's what they do..