Cracking etymological enigmas: unravelling the Greek and Latin languages’ contributions in marine taxa nomenclature

Abstract

Etymology is a key component in zoological nomenclature, often carrying key information for an organism. Greek and Latin languages have been used for centuries in synthesizing zoological names. However, there are surprisingly few studies about each language’s contribution, which is crucial for avoiding misunderstandings around names’ meaning and origin. This study examined the publications that described 1328 valid Echinodermata genera and presents results for 425 genera where etymology was provided by the authors. The analysis showed that 63.8% of genera names were composed exclusively of Greek elements, 28.0% were hybrid, 6.1% ‘other’, and 2.1% Latin. Language elements used in the formation of names were Greek (68.1%), ‘other’ (17.2%), or Latin (14.7%). The contribution of the Greek elements decreased after 1960, while the presence of hybrid increased. A decrease in the contribution of morphological elements was also observed after 1960, accompanied by an increased use of scientists’ surnames. Etymological analysis has unravelled and addressed long-lasting misconceptions about commonly used terminology. The number of studies where etymology is provided increased after 1960; this practice needs to be sustained as etymological transparency advances zoological knowledge and minimizes the risk for the development of misleading concepts in zoological nomenclature.