Nutty Nomenclature
All species of organism are given their own specific name by the taxonomist who first describes them. Every now and again the taxonomists allow themselves to have a little bit of fun. This is our guide to some more mischievously named species.
Name: Cavaticovelia aaa
Don’t get it? Aaa is the Hawaiian word for a lava tube. It's also quite funny.
What is it? The aaa water treader - an endangered bug.
Where is it found? Hawaii.
When was it first named? 1975
Who deserves the credit? The late Wayne Gagne and Francis Howarth - an entomologist still plying his trade at Bishop Museum, Hawaii.
Is there a picture? I can't find one of Cavaticovelia aaa itself, but don't be too disappointed because instead click on the image to see a different species on water treader in action (via MIT). Water treaders are predators which patrol the surface of ponds and streams. Being bugs they have no mandibles, sucking their prey's innards out through their straw-like mouthparts instead. Check out some other weird species names here.
Null's other regular features:
Monday: Phunny Phobias
Wednesday: Doctor Doctor
Thursday: Peculiar Periodicals
Friday: End of week timewasters
Title image: Bianca de Blok
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