Re: Derivation of name Apistogramma

[IDMiamiBob@aol.com]

Mike Wise writes:

<snip>> "In not explaining explicitly the meaning of his names, Regan left us
>  with a problem. There are two Greek words that can be latinized into 
gramma.
>  viz. gramma and grammh.
>  The first is neuter (actually he got them switched around - mw) and means
>  letter, something written, or basic knowledge (cf. English words grammar,
>  program), the second is feminine and means stripe or line. If the meaning
>  is considered, there can be no doubt about which word Regan had in mind.
>  Meinken (in Holly et al.) explains Apistogramma as meaning "mit unzuverl&
> auml;ssiger
>  Seitenlinie" (= "with unreliable lateral line" - mw), i.e. the feminine
>  word is the one sought, and it retains its gender after latinization. -a
>  is also the common Latin feminine ending. The "gender problem" was first
>  observed by Schmettkamp (1976), who noted that neuter endings to specific
>  names were commonest in literature, but that also masculine (amoenus) and
>  mistakingly, feminine (pleurotaenia) occurred."
>  
> For those interested, last year the International Commission on Zoological
>  Nomenclature ruled that Apistogramma is feminine and species should have
>  a feminine ending (unless named after a man).
>  
> So there you have it in a nut shell. Apistogramma now means "unreliable
>  lateral line" and has nothing to do with markings on the fish.
>  
> For those interested in the history of&nbsp; apistos in the scientific
>  literature, I would recommend reading section 2 in Kullander's 1980 
> monograph.
>  
> Mike Wise
>  
>  &nbsp;
>  &nbsp;
>  &nbsp; 
>  &nbsp;
> Thomas Fischer wrote:<blockquote TYPE=CITE>This isn't the most burning 
> question in the world,but does anyone know the
>  etymological meaning of the name Apistogramma? As far as I can makeout, it
>  seems to mean something like "untrustworthy/unreliable
>  letter/character/marking." Could this have something to do with thefishes'
>  various body markings?
> Tom Fischer
>  Boston
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com.
>  For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help,
>  email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com.
>  Search <A HREF="http://altavista.digital.com">http://altavista.digital.com
</A>for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"
> !</blockquote>
>  
How'd you do that, Mike?  Everything at the end of the posting, including the 
closing mailing list info, was converted to greek.  Very Clever!!

Bob Dixon


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com.
For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help,
email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com.
Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!