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Re: Derivation of name Apistogramma
Bob,
I guess you and I are using different browsers and maybe even different computer
platforms. I just changed character sets to one that used Greek letters. My
computer (Compaq/Windows95) and browser (Netscape) converted it properly but
yours didn't. I'll have to rethink using special character sets from now on -
only use ASCII. If you want to read the rest & can't pull it off this (below),
let me know & I'll send it to you.
Mike
IDMiamiBob@aol.com wrote:
> 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 apistos in the scientific
> > literature, I would recommend reading section 2 in Kullander's 1980
> > monograph.
> >
> > Mike Wise
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> > !</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
>
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