Species named after Tolkien's works: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Syconycteris hobbit.jpg||thumb|right|''Syconycteris hobbit'']]
In the field of biology, several '''species''' have been named after creatures, people and places in [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s [[legendarium]]. Many of these were coined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_Van_Valen Leigh van Valen].
Many '''species''' and even entire [[wikipedia:Genus|genera]] have been named after elements of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|J.R.R. Tolkien's]] [[legendarium]]. Some items on the list are ''junior synonyms'', i.e. they were coined for a [[wikipedia:Taxon|taxon]] that had an earlier published name and thus are not official according to the rules of [[wikipedia:Zoological nomenclature|zoological nomenclature]]. These are marked in the footnotes accordingly.


* ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_floresiensis Homo floresiensis]'' is an extinct hominin species nicknamed 'the [[Hobbit]]' because of its size.
{|
* Leucothoe tolkieni G. Vinogradov, 1990  (amphipod) Named after J.R.R. Tolkien. [Vinogradov, G. M. 1990. Trudy instituta okeanologii AN SSSR (Transactions of the Inst. of Oceanology of the USSR Academy of Science) 124: 27-104 (in Russian).]
| Taxon
* Aletodon mellon (Van Valen, 1978) (Paleocene mammal) "mellon," [[Elvish]] for "friend," was the password into Moria.
| Refers to
* Ancalagon Conway Morris, 1977 (Cambrian priapulid) From a dragon from Tolkien.
|-
* Ankalagon Van Valen, 1980 (Paleocene mesonychid mammal) Renamed from [[Ancalagon]] because it was preoccupied.
| ''Aletodon mellon''
* Anisonchus eowynae Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal, synonym of A. athelas Van Valen 1978) for [[Éowyn]], Princess of [[Rohan]]. "[[Athelas]]" was a Middle Earth healing plant.
| [[Quenya]]: ''[[mellon]]''
* Bomburia Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal) for [[Bombur]].
|-
* Bubogonia bombadili and Protoselene bombadili (Van Valen, 1978) (Paleocene mammals) after [[Tom Bombadil]].
| ''Ancalagon minor''  
* Claenodon mumak (Van Valen, 1978) (Paleocene mammal) after [[Mûmak]], the Middle Earth elephant
| [[Ancalagon]]
* Deltatherium durini Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal) Several notable Dwarves were named [[Durin (disambiguation)|Durin]].
|-
* Earendil Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal, synonym of Mimatuta Van Valen, 1978) for [[Eärendil]], father of [[Elrond]].
| ''Ankalagon saurognathus''
* Elachista amrodella, E. aredhella, E. caranthirella, E. curufinella, E. daeronella, E. diorella, E. finarfinella, E. gildorella, E. indisella, E. maglorella, E. miriella, E. turgonella (Kaila 1999) (moths) Named after elves from Tolkien, respectively: [[Amrod]] (Amras' twin), [[Aredhel]] (The White Lady of [[Gondolin]]), [[Caranthir]], [[Curufin]], [[Daeron]] (Chief loremaster of [[Doriath]]), [[Dior Eluchíl|Dior]] (King of Doriath), [[Finarfin]] ([[Noldor]] King in [[Aman]]), [[Gildor Inglorion]] (High-Elf of [[Eriador]] &[[ Imladris]]), [[Indis]], [[Maglor]], [[Miriel]], [[Turgon]] (Lord of [[Nevrast]], then Gondolin). Kaila mentions that Elves "one after other sailed over the water to the West, and were later difficult to see with human eyes," alluding to the studied moths, which are very inconspicuous and have spread to Nearctic areas. [Acta Zool. Fennica 211]
| [[Ancalagon]]<ref group="note">Spelt with a ''k'' because the genus ''Ancalagon'' was already occupied by ''Ancalagon minor''. The species name ''saurognathus'' is Latin for "lizard jaw" but also bears a resemblance to [[Sauron]].</ref>
* Fimbrethil ambaronae Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal, synonym of Oxyacodon agapetillus (Cope 1884)) [[Fimbrethil]] was an Ent-maiden; [[Ambarona|Ambaróna]] was a name for the [[Ents|Ents']] forest.
|-
* Frodospira Wagner 1999 (Silurian gastropod) A small genus named after a certain [[hobbit]]. [Am. Malacological Bull. 15:1-31]
| ''Anisonchus eowynae''<br>''Anisonschus athelas''<ref group="note">Synonyms for the same species.</ref>
* Galaxias gollumoides (fresh-water fish) Named after [[Gollum]] because it has large eyes and was found in a swamp.
| [[Éowyn]] and [[Athelas]]
* Gollum Compagno, 1973 (catshark)
|-
* Gollumjapyx smeagol (dipluran hexapod)
| ''Balinia''
* Gwaihiria Nauman (diapriid wasp) Named for [[Gwaihir]], Lord of the Eagles.
| [[Balin]]
* Litaletes ondolinde Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal) for [[Ondolindë]], an Elven city.
|-
* Macrostyphlus frodo Morrone, 1994 (Andean weevil)
| ''Balrogia''
* Macrostyphlus gandalf Morrone, 1994 (Andean weevil) [This and M. frodo are from American Museum Novitates 3104: 1-63.]
| [[Balrogs]]
* Mimotricentes mirielae Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal, synonym of Loxolophus hyattianus (Cope, 1885)) after [[Míriel]], an Elf.
|-
* Mimatuta morgoth Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal) for the "dark enemy of the world."
| ''Beornia''
* Mimatuta minuial Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal) "minuial" is Elvish for dawn's twilight.
| [[Beorn]]
* Mithrandir Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal) one of the names of the wizard [[Gandalf]].
|-
* Niphredil radagasti Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal, now in genus Paleotomus) * [[Niphredil]] is a small Middle Earth flower. [[Radagast|Radagast the Brown]] was a [[wizard]].
| ''Beorn leggi''
* Osteoborus orc Webb, 1969 (Pliocene canid)
| [[Beorn]]
* Oxyprimus galadrielae Van Valen, 1978 (arctocyonid Paleocene mammal) for elf [[Galadriel|Lady Galadriel]].
|-
* Pericompsus bilbo Erwin (carabid) for the title character of [[The Hobbit]]. So called because "it was short, fat, and had hairy feet."
| ''Bofuria''
* Platymastus palantir Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal) The [[Palantir|palantír]] was a magical viewing stone.
| [[Bofur]]
* Protungulatum gorgun Van Valen, 1978 (Paleocene mammal) "gorgûn" is a term for [[Orcs]].
|-
* Smeagol Climo, 1980 (gastropod, family Smeagolidae) Another name for Gollum.
| ''Bomburia''
* Smeagolia Hedqvist, 1973 (pteromalid wasp)
| [[Bombur]]
* Syconycteris hobbit (moss-forest blossom bat)
|-
* Thangorodrim thalion Van Valen (Paleocene mammal, synonym of Oxyclaenus Cope 1884) [[Thangorodrim]] are the three tallest towers of [[Endor]]; [[Thalion]] is a character from Tolkien's ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.
| ''Borophagus orc''<ref group="note">Formerly ''Osteoborus orc''.</ref>
* Tinuviel Van Valen (Paleocene mammal) for a most beautiful elf. The name is Elvish for nightingale.
| [[Orcs]]
|-
| ''Bubogonia bombadili''
| [[Tom Bombadil]]
|-
| ''Claenodon mumak''
| [[Mûmakil]]
|-
| ''Deltatherium durini''
| [[Durin]]
|-
| ''Durinia''
| [[Durin]]
|-
| ''Dvalinia''
| [[Dwalin]]
|-
| ''Earendil''
| [[Eärendil]]
|-
| ''Elachista amrodella''<ref group="note">Moths of this species are, according to biologist Lauri Kaila, similar to [[Elves]] in that they are inconspicuous and have spread to the western hemisphere.</ref>
| [[Amrod]]
|-
| ''Elachista aredhella''
| [[Aredhel]]
|-
| ''Elachista caranthirella''
| [[Caranthir]]
|-
| ''Elachista curufinella''
| [[Curufin]]
|-
| ''Elachista daeronella''
| [[Daeron]]
|-
| ''Elachista diorella''
| [[Dior]]
|-
| ''Elachista finarfinella''
| [[Finarfin]]
|-
| ''Elachista gildorella''
| [[Gildor|Gildor Inglorion]]
|-
| ''Elachista indisella''
| [[Indis]]
|-
| ''Elachista maglorella''
| [[Maglor]]
|-
| ''Elachista miriella''
| [[Míriel]]
|-
| ''Elachista turgonella''
| [[Turgon]]
|-
| ''Entia''
| [[Ents]]
|-
| ''Fimbrethil ambaronae''<ref group="note">Synonym of [http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Oxyacodon_agapetillus Oxyacodon agapetillus]</ref>
| [[Fimbrethil]] and [[Ambaróna]]
|-
| ''Frodospira''
| [[Frodo Baggins]]
|-
| ''Galaxias gollumoides''
| [[Gollum]]<ref group="note">Because it has large eyes and was found in a swamp.</ref>
|-
| ''Gildoria''
| [[Gildor]]
|-
| ''Gimlia''
| [[Gimli]]
|-
| ''Gollum attenuatus''
| [[Gollum]]
|-
| ''Gollumiella''
| [[Gollum]]
|-
| ''Gollumjapyx smeagol''
| [[Gollum]]
|-
| ''Gwaihiria''
| [[Gwaihir]]
|-
| ''Homo floresiensis''
| Commonly known as '[[Hobbits|the Hobbit]]'
|-
| ''Legolasia''
| [[Legolas]]
|-
| ''Leucothoe tolkieni''
| [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]
|-
| ''Litaletes ondolinde''
| [[Ondolindë]]
|-
| ''Macropsis sauroni''
| [[Sauron]]
|-
| ''Macrostyphlus frodo''
| [[Frodo Baggins]]
|-
| ''Macrostyphlus gandalf''
| [[Gandalf]]
|-
| ''Mimotricentes mirielae''<ref group="note">Synonym of ''Loxolophus hyattianus''</ref>
| [[Míriel]]
|-
| ''Mimatuta morgoth''
| [[Morgoth]]
|-
| ''Mimatuta minuial''
| [[Sindarin]]: ''[[minuial]]''
|-
| ''Mithrandir''
| [[Gandalf|Mithrandir]]
|-
| ''Nazgulia''
| [[Nazgûl]]
|-
| ''Oinia''
| [[Óin]]
|-
| ''Oxyprimus galadrielae''
| [[Galadriel]]
|-
| ''Paleotomus radagasti''<ref group="note">Formerly ''Niphredil radagasti'', referring to [[Niphredil]].</ref>
| [[Radagast]]
|-
| ''Pericompsus bilbo''
| [[Bilbo Baggins]]<ref group="note">Because it is "short, fat, and has hairy feet".</ref>
|-
| ''Platymastus palantir''
| [[Palantíri]]
|-
| ''Protoselene bombadili''
| [[Tom Bombadil]]
|-
| ''Protungulatum gorgun''
| [[Drúedain]]: [[gorgûn]]''
|-
| ''[http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Smeagol Smeagol]''<ref group="note">The only genus in the family ''[http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Smeagolidae Smeagolidae].</ref>
| [[Gollum]]
|-
| ''Smeagolia''
| [[Gollum]]
|-
| ''Syconycteris hobbit''<ref group="note">Commonly called the 'Hairy-footed Moss Forest Blossom Bat'</ref>
| [[Hobbits]]
|-
| ''Thangorodrim thalion''<ref group="note">Synonym of ''Oxyclaenus''</ref>
| [[Thangorodrim]] and [[Húrin Thalion]]
|-
| ''Tinuviel''
| [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]]
|}
 
==Notes==
<references group="note" />
 
==References==
* Yanega, Doug. [http://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html Curious Scientific Names]. Retrieved 2010-08-13
* Isaak, Marc. [http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/etym/fiction.html Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature: Etymology: Fiction]. Updated 2010-08-02. Retrieved 2010-08-12.


[[Category:Biology (real-world)]]
[[Category:Biology (real-world)]]

Revision as of 16:36, 3 October 2013

File:Syconycteris hobbit.jpg
Syconycteris hobbit

Many species and even entire genera have been named after elements of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. Some items on the list are junior synonyms, i.e. they were coined for a taxon that had an earlier published name and thus are not official according to the rules of zoological nomenclature. These are marked in the footnotes accordingly.

Taxon Refers to
Aletodon mellon Quenya: mellon
Ancalagon minor Ancalagon
Ankalagon saurognathus Ancalagon[note 1]
Anisonchus eowynae
Anisonschus athelas[note 2]
Éowyn and Athelas
Balinia Balin
Balrogia Balrogs
Beornia Beorn
Beorn leggi Beorn
Bofuria Bofur
Bomburia Bombur
Borophagus orc[note 3] Orcs
Bubogonia bombadili Tom Bombadil
Claenodon mumak Mûmakil
Deltatherium durini Durin
Durinia Durin
Dvalinia Dwalin
Earendil Eärendil
Elachista amrodella[note 4] Amrod
Elachista aredhella Aredhel
Elachista caranthirella Caranthir
Elachista curufinella Curufin
Elachista daeronella Daeron
Elachista diorella Dior
Elachista finarfinella Finarfin
Elachista gildorella Gildor Inglorion
Elachista indisella Indis
Elachista maglorella Maglor
Elachista miriella Míriel
Elachista turgonella Turgon
Entia Ents
Fimbrethil ambaronae[note 5] Fimbrethil and Ambaróna
Frodospira Frodo Baggins
Galaxias gollumoides Gollum[note 6]
Gildoria Gildor
Gimlia Gimli
Gollum attenuatus Gollum
Gollumiella Gollum
Gollumjapyx smeagol Gollum
Gwaihiria Gwaihir
Homo floresiensis Commonly known as 'the Hobbit'
Legolasia Legolas
Leucothoe tolkieni J.R.R. Tolkien
Litaletes ondolinde Ondolindë
Macropsis sauroni Sauron
Macrostyphlus frodo Frodo Baggins
Macrostyphlus gandalf Gandalf
Mimotricentes mirielae[note 7] Míriel
Mimatuta morgoth Morgoth
Mimatuta minuial Sindarin: minuial
Mithrandir Mithrandir
Nazgulia Nazgûl
Oinia Óin
Oxyprimus galadrielae Galadriel
Paleotomus radagasti[note 8] Radagast
Pericompsus bilbo Bilbo Baggins[note 9]
Platymastus palantir Palantíri
Protoselene bombadili Tom Bombadil
Protungulatum gorgun Drúedain: gorgûn
Smeagol[note 10] Gollum
Smeagolia Gollum
Syconycteris hobbit[note 11] Hobbits
Thangorodrim thalion[note 12] Thangorodrim and Húrin Thalion
Tinuviel Lúthien Tinúviel

Notes

  1. Spelt with a k because the genus Ancalagon was already occupied by Ancalagon minor. The species name saurognathus is Latin for "lizard jaw" but also bears a resemblance to Sauron.
  2. Synonyms for the same species.
  3. Formerly Osteoborus orc.
  4. Moths of this species are, according to biologist Lauri Kaila, similar to Elves in that they are inconspicuous and have spread to the western hemisphere.
  5. Synonym of Oxyacodon agapetillus
  6. Because it has large eyes and was found in a swamp.
  7. Synonym of Loxolophus hyattianus
  8. Formerly Niphredil radagasti, referring to Niphredil.
  9. Because it is "short, fat, and has hairy feet".
  10. The only genus in the family Smeagolidae.
  11. Commonly called the 'Hairy-footed Moss Forest Blossom Bat'
  12. Synonym of Oxyclaenus

References