Anyone here good with Latin & gender?

[zericteng]

So many species has scientific names with multiple gender variation and very hard to determine the grammatically correct one!

[Psyche]

I know a little about Latin derivatives.
All scientific names are in Latin or neo Latin, ie Latin created words which may or not be accurate.
As a general rule the names are either in a masculine, feminine, or neuter (sexless) gender.
Male gender ending
usually us, os, or, is.
Female gender ending,
a, ae .o.
Neuter ending,
um ,i.
Proper nouns, ie names in mythology can be varied.
The gender of the genus and the species & subspecies should be the same, unless one is a proper noun, which gender cannot be changed.
This ,however is not often properly followed for various reasons.

Early authors uses name from Greek mytholoy, as well as othe myths and legends.
As European authors also study Latin they also use their own Latin combinations.
With so manu species other authors have to sources names from elsewhere.
Federic Moore in India use numerous name fron Hindi and Sanskrit mythologies, as where as place names and names of local folks.
Distant uses Malay names in many of his names.

eg Papilio L butterfly male gender.
Papilio demoleus malayanus
Demoleus Trojan warrior slain by Aeneus.
Malayanus of Malaya.

Papilio demolion.
Demolion minor Trojan warrior slain by Achilles.

Papilio helenus.
Helenus ,Trojan prince, son of King Priam.

Papilio polytes romulus.
Polytes, son of King Priam.
Romulus One of a Roman twin raised by wolves, founder of Rome.

Troides helena ceberus
Troides Tros (Founder of Troy)+ ides = family ie Family of Tros.
Helena. Queen of Sparta.
Cerberus Three headed dog guarding the gates of Hades.

Saletara panda distanti.
Saletara after the Orang Saletar (latinised).
panda uncertain ,probaly after the giant Panda, ie the distinct black and white in the female.
distanti after Distant.

Euploea camaralzeman malayica.
Euploea Good voyage, an epithet of Goddess Aphrodite, as Aphrodite Euploea ,ie. Aphrodite Good Voyage, Patron Goddess of sailors.
camaralzeman person's name now spelled as Kamarulzaman.
malayica Malaya.


Pandita sinope
Pandita Sanskrit , scholar.
Sinope. a water nymph of the God Asopus.


Discophora sondaica despoliata.
Discophora. Bearing a disc ,referring to the disclike mark on the male.
Sondaica From the ancient Sunda (Sonda)land.
despoliata ,strpped off , barren ,plain.

Jacoona anasuja.
Jacoona After the Jakun Tribe of Malaya (old spelling Jacoon.
Anasuja (Anasuya) wife of a sage in the Hindu epic.

Arhopala muta.
Arhopala .without clubs ie no distinct club.
muta change, mutate ,refer to the colour change of the two wings.


Telicota augias.
Telicota ancient Indian city state Telicot.
Augias also spelt Augeas King of ellis in greek mythology.

You can google etymology of many words in greek and other mythology but much less of locally latinised words.


TL Seow:Cheers.

[zericteng]

Thanks for the input. I hate also the fact that not all Genus are adjective. Those that are noun in opposition (proper noun you mentioned?)need no correct gender and shall follow original spelling. Not easy to know if it's former or latter without such knowledge.

[Psyche]

Other interesting combinations.

Atrophaneura nox erebus.

Atro from ater, Greek ,dark.
phaneus shining/prominent.
neura[ nerves/ the veins in English for butterflies.
Nox the Romsn Goddess of Night, In Greek ,Nyx.
Erebus. Greek Personification of Darness, consrt of Nyx.


Tirumala septentrionis.
Tirumala... The Tirumala temple complex in India.
septentrionis From old English Septentrion borrowed from Roman, the seven northern stars (Great Bear)
Latinised as septentrionis referring to the northern region.


Simiskina pharyge.
Simiskina .From the Malay fable Si-miskin, Mr Poor, The pauper.
Pharyge, Ancient Greek town.


Cheritra freya frigga.
Cheritra Sanskrit for history, life-story.
Freya (Freja) Norse goddess.
Frigga, Frigg(a).. Norse goddess, wife of Odin.

Pemara pugnans.
Pemara Latinised from Malay, Pemarah, an angry person. H ending is not used in Latin eg Kedah is latinised as keda.
pugnans.. pugnacious, aggressive.


TL Seow: Cheers.