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SPECIES NAMES PAGE 'M'

Species (second name: a group of organisms generally resembling each other and capable of reproduction).

 

Genus Names  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

 M

   
macanuda Named after the word ‘macanuda’, a regional adjective to describe a ’large and strong’ person, referring to the species being the largest of the genus.
machadoi Named for Antonio Machado-Allison, in recognition of his lifelong dedication and contributions to Neotropical ichthyology.
maclareni Named in memory of Peter Ian Rupert MacLaren (ca. 1919-1956), who used his position as Fisheries Development Officer of Nigeria to collect fishes for the British Museum, including type specimen of this catfish (from Cameroon) in 1948. He died from wounds inflicted by a crocodile in what is now Zambia.
maclurei Corydoras maclurei is named in honour of Robert “Rob” McLure, dear friend and renowned Corydoradinae breeder. Rob has been the main English-language reviewer of the first author’s publications, in addition to providing valuable information and live photos of several species of Corydoradinae. A genitive noun.
macracanthus Large spined.
macronotacanthus macro-, large; notos, back; acanthus, spine, referring to the thick dorsal spine (Arius macronotacanthus).
macrocephala The specific name of macrocephala: macro-, large; cephala, head, referring to larger head compared to Imparfinis nemacheir, its presumed congener at the time (Pimelodella macrocephala).
macrocephalus The species is named macrocephalus for its large head: macro- (large) and cephalus (head) - (Cnidoglanis macrocephalus).
macrodon Large teeth.
macrops Large appearance.
macropterus Large wing, (referring to the fins).
macrophthalmus Specific name is derived from the Greek makrós (large) and ophthalmós (eye).
macrostigma Large spots.
macrostoma From the Greek makros, meaning long and stoma, meaning mouth; in reference to the size of the mouth.
maculatus Spotted.
maculicauda Spotted tail.
maculifer Carrying spots.
maculippinis Spotted fins.
maculosus Latin for speckled, referring to eye-sized spots along middle of body (Aspidoras maculosus).
macushi Named for the Macushi people of the northern Rupununi, who provided the authors with a lot of help and hospitality on their journeys in southern Guyana, and who collected most of the best specimens in the type series (Hypostomus macushi).
madeirensis From a geographical locality.
magdalenae/atum From the Magdalena River, South America.
magna Great, being the largest known species of the genus.
magoi In honour of Francisco Mago-Leccia (1931-2004), for his contributions to the study and knowledge of Venezuelan fishes, and his valuable work forming a new generation of ichthyologists (Ageneiosus magoi).
magur magur and maghur, Assamese and Bengali names, respectively, for this catfish (and for C. batrachus) along the Ganges River in India, (Clarius magur).
major Larger; senior to another.
majusculus Somewhat greater, referring to the relatively larger adipose-fin base and pectoral and dorsal fins when compared to Bagrichthys macracanthus, its closest congener.
malabarbai The specific name honours Luiz Roberto Malabarba for his active contribution to the knowledge of the Neotropical ichthyofauna.
malabarensis Named for the older name for the region of northern Kerala, (‘Malabar’) in which this species occurs (Glyptothorax malabarensis).
malabaricus From the Malabar coast, India.
malarmo Local name of this species “in the territory of the hostile Motilone Indians” of Venezuela, meaning bony-cheek, referring to the ossified part of maxillary barbels (Platysilurus malarmo).
malayensis From Malaya.
mamore From the Rio Mamore for this Corydoras species.
mancoi For the Inca Ayar Manco, coloniser of Cuzco, the “Moses of the Peruvian Indians”, who, about 1100 A.D. led the exodus from Tampu-tocco.” (Eigenmann & Allen, 1942).
mandibularis From the Latin "mandibula" (lower jaw), probably refering to the rather well developed mandibular barbels.
mangois Latinisation of Manggoi, local Gangetic name for this catfish (Amblyceps mangois).
manillensis The specific name for Arius manillensis found in the area around Manila, The Philippines.
maniradii mani-, from multus (L.), much or many; radii (L.), rayed (authors say rakers), referring to the high number of gill rakers (on first branchial arch) relative to congeners (Sorubim maniradii).
maracaya The specific name maracaya (also mbaracaya) is a Tupi-Guarani Amerindian name for the margay wild cat (Leopardus wiedii), an allusion both to the blotched pigmentation pattern of this species and its predatory habits on vertebrates (tadpoles), (Trichomycterus maracaya).
marapoama The specific epithet marapoama is in reference to the county of the city in which the new species was collected. It is treated as a noun in apposition.
marcapatae Named for the type locality of this Ancistrus; Marcapata Valley, E. Peru.
marginatum Provided with a margin (edge).
marginalis The specific name of marginalis from the Latin margo, meaning margin, and -alis, in allusion to the distribution of the species in the northern margin of the Brazilian Shield. An adjective.
margaritatus The specific epithet is Latin for “adorned with pearls,” referring to the dense white spots on the body.
mariae After a personal name.
marginatoides –oides, having the form of: Liobagrus marginatus, to which it is compared (Liobagrus marginatoides).
marginatus Margined, referring to white margins on all fins (Liobagrus marginatus).
marinus Meaning of the sea, the “Salt-water Catfish” of New York State (USA) (Bagre marinus).
marmoratus Marbled; mottled.
marthae (1) In honour of Martha Ruth Myers, wife of Dr.G.S. Myers.
marthae (2) In honour of Martha Elizabeth Sands.
martini In honour of geologist Bethea Martin, Lago Petroleum Corporation, who aided Schultz in the collection of fishes in Venezuela (Ancistrus martini).
masteri In honour of George Masters (1837-1912), Curator of the Macleay Museum, Sydney University, to whom Ogilby was “indebted for much valuable information on the fine collection under his charge, and whose general knowledge of the Australian fauna is possibly exceeded by none” (Pararius masteri).
maydelli In honour of Gustav Adolf von Maydell (1919-1959), University of Hamburg, who collected type (Hemibagrus maydelli).
maydeni Named for Richard L. Mayden in recognition of his work on species concepts and his contributions to ichthyology, particularly the systematics and biology of central highland fishes.
mediadiposalis –alis, adjectival suffix: media-, middle, presumably referring to high and long adipose fin centered on back between dorsal and caudal fins (Liobagrus mediadiposalis).
meesi In honour of Dr.G. Mees of the Leiden Natural History Museum, Germany.
megacanthus Latinised from Greek megas (megas), large, great and akanthos (akanthos), thorn, spine, in reference to the large pectoral-fin spines of the new species. A noun in apposition (Ancistrus megacanthus).
megalopteryx From the Greek megale, meaning large, and pteryx, meaning wing or fin, alluding to its large pectoral fin.
megistus Probably latinised form of the ancient Greek word megistos, which means “the greatest”.
meizospilos meizon, comparative of mégas, i.e., greater or larger; spílos, mark or spot, referring to larger size of dots compared with white-spotted congeners of southern Brazil (Hemiancistrus meizospilos).
melanistius From the Greek melan = 'black' and histion = 'sail', alluding to the dorsal fin.
melanocheilus melanos, black; cheilos, lip, referring to black, large lower lip of nuptial males (Loricariichthys melanocheilus).
melanogaster Black belly.
melanopterus melanos, black; pterus, fin, referring to its predominantly black fins (Xyliphius lepturus).
melanotaenia From the Greek melan = 'black' and the Latin taenia = ribbon, fillet , tapeworm.
melapterus mela[no]-, black; pterus, fin, referring to “violet-black” (translation) colouration on rayed dorsal, pectoral, ventral and anal fins, and “black-violet” (translation) border on caudal fin (Bagroides melapterus).
melas Black.
melini Named in honour of Dr. Douglas Melin.
membranaceus Refers to the presence of a membrane on the barbels of this Synodontis.
menezesi The specific name, menezesi, is in honour of Dr. Rui Simões de Menezes, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Brazil, in recognition to his studies of the life history of freshwater fishes of northeastern Brazil.
menoda Local name for this species in Bangladesh (Hemibagrus menoda).
menoni Named for Dr. A. G. K. Menon, the eminent Scientist of Zoological Survey of India, who contributed much to the taxonomy of the fresh water fishes of India (Mystus menoni)
mephisto The epithet “mephisto” refers to the shortened name of Mephistopheles, demon from the German folklore. Mephistopheles comes from the Greek by the combination of three words: (me), a negation, (phos), meaning light, and (philis), meaning loving, literally “not-light-loving”, or the one who does not love the light, making allusion to the subterranean behavior of the new species. A noun in apposition.
merevari Ye-kuana name for the Caura River, Bolívar State, Venezuela, type locality (Harttia merevari).
meridionalis Southern, presumably referring to the distribution south of the nilotic Bagrus bajad in the upper Shire River of Malawi (Bagrus meridionalis).
merianiensis –ensis, suffix denoting place: presumably a variant spelling of Mariani, referring to Mariani Junction, Assam, India, type locality (Batasio merianiensis).
mesembrinus Southern, the southern-most of all Hara (now Erethistes) species.
metae From the River (Rio) Meta, South America (Colombia).
metaense The specific name refers to the type locality, Meta River, a tributary of the Orinoco River in Colombia and Venezuela.
micracanthus From the Greek; mikros = small; akantha = thorn, prickle.
microcphalus From the Greek, mikros = small; galaeus = helmet.
microgalaeus Small head.
microlepidogaster Small scales on the belly.
micromaculatus From the Greek, mikros = small; maculatus; spotted.
micropunctatus From the Greek, mikros = small. From the Latin punctatus = 'spotted'.
microps Small appearance.
midgleyi In honour of Stephen Hamar Midgley (1918-2014), amateur ichthyologist and limnologist, and his wife Mary, for bringing this catfish to the attention of the senior author, and for their “enthusiastic and dedicated study” of the fresh waters of northern Australia [preferably spelled midgleyorum since name honours more than one person, but ICZN 32.5.1 forbids such a correction], (Neoarius midgleyi)
microphthalmus micro-, small; ophthalmus, eye, presumably referring to eye diameter 1/6 length of head (Hemibagrus microphthalmus).
micropogon micro-, small; pogon, beard, referring to eight slender barbels (Leiocassis micropogon).
microstoma/us Small mouth.
militaris Soldier or war-like, presumably referring to long dorsal spine, serrated on both sides (Osteogeneiosus militaris).
mimulus Specific name derived from a Latin word, mimulus, diminutive of minus, meaning actor, given with reference to the mimicry in colour pattern with Corydoras diphyes.
mino Presumably a local name for this fish along upper Ganges estuaries in India (Batrachocephalus mino).
minut(sculus)es Minute, known for its small size.
mirini Named for Rio Piracicaba-mirini, near Piracicaba, Brazil, type locality (Imparfinis mirini).
mirissumba Local name for this catfish in the village of Maromba (Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), probably derived from the Tupí-Guaraní, its meaning unknown (tadpoles), (Trichomycterus mirissumba).
mishky Quichua word for sweet, in memory of Patricia Garcia Tartalo, friend and student, who died tragically in February 2006 (Imparfinis mishky).
misionera Refers to Misiones, the Argentinian Province containing the type locality.
miurus miurus meaning curtailed, probably referring to the short appearance of this fish (Noturus).
mojicai The epithet specific mojicai, is a tribute to the Doctor José Iván Mojica, Director of the Museum of Ichthyology of the Institute of natural sciences of the National University of Colombia - Bogotá, for his contributions to the knowledge of the Colombian Ichthyology.
moijiri The specific epithet moijiri (Spinipterus moiijri) comes from Moijiri; this species is known among the Paumari Indians that inhabit the Río Tapauá, Purus basin. The meaning of the word Moijiri is unknown so far. The Paumari language belongs to the Arawa linguistic group.
moli Named after Dr. Jan Mol for his contributions to the knowledge of Suriname’s fishes.
mollespiculum Named for its soft, flexible dorsal spine.
mongoensis The specific epithet refers to the Rio Mongo, a tributary to the Rio Wele in Equatorial Guinea, where the species is presumed endemic (Chiloglanis mongoensis).
monkei In honour of Dr. H. Monke, who collected the type specimen (Parauchenoglanis monkei).
monsembulai Named in honour of Raoul Monsembula Iyaba (professor of biology, University of Kinshasa) for collecting the type series of this species, and in recognition of his substantial contributions to central African ichthyology.
morrowi For William Morrow, who collected this fish (Liosomodoras morrowi).
montanus Mountain, allusion not explained, probably referring to its occurrence in hill or mountain streams (Mystus montanus).
morrisi In honour of Percival Morris, who collected type and served as Eigenmann’s assistant, majordomo and interpreter in the Iquitos region of Peru (Hemidoras morrisi).
msirii The species name is dedicated to King Mwenda Msiri Ngelengwa (1830-1891); he founded and ruled the Yeke Kingdom of south-east Katanga, now DRC, from about 1856 to 1891 and was murdered for resisting Belgian colonial rule in his area; it is dedicated to the King Msiri in acknowledgement and in honour of his service and defence of the integrity of his people (Chiloglanis msirii).
mucosus Latin, mucosa, mucosus = mucous. This refers to the numerous large pores under the lower jaw, which Vallant refered to as mucous pores (but are sensory pores).
multitaeniatus Referring to the origin of the type material of this species, collected in the Cameroons.
multimaculatus From the Latin multi = 'many', and maculatus = 'spotted', alluding to the many spots on the specimen.
multifasciatus Many banded.
multipunctatus Many Spotted.
multiradiatus Many (fin) rays.
multispinis multi-, many; spinus, spine, referring to 20-25 spines on interoperculum (Ancistrus multispinis).
munduruku Named after the Munduruku, a large indigenous group inhabiting a large part of the southwestern Para' State along the Rio Tapajo's until the Rio Madeira in the Amazon State and the northern part of the Mato Grosso State in Brasil. The Munduruku people are well known for being powerful warriors and great strategists, and in recent years they have drawn much attention for the fight against the hydroelectric dams in the Xingu and the ones planned in the Tapajo's Rivers.
muricata From the Latin adjective muricata, meaning spiny (like a murex), in reference to its elongate dorsal and pectoral-fin spines.
murinus murinus; meaning mouse gray and refers to its colour.
murius From Muri vacha, local Gangetic name for this catfish (Eutropiichthys murius).
musaicus Referring to its mosaic colour pattern (Centromochlus musaicus).
mysticetus Generic name of baleen whales, referring to numerous slender, baleen-like gill rakers (Mystus mystictus).
mystus "Mystax" meaning whiskered. Mystus was first used by Belon in 1553 to describe all fish with whiskers.
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SPECIES NAMES PAGE "M"

 

 

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