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: Leblondiella densa
Don’t get it? Don't give in to stereotypes - please tell me you're a brunette.
What is it? A type of seaweed
Where is found? UK, France, Ireland.
When was it first named? 1939.
Who deserves the credit? The exquisitely named French seaweedologist Gontran Hamel, about whom we can find no information. The species was originally named Myriotrichia densa in 1895, but it took a flash of Gallic genius 44 years later to give it its current, somewhat chauvinistic, moniker.
Is there a picture? Not on the 'Net. But, from what little information we can glean about this rare alga, it's not much to write home about.
Thanks to Becky Seeley for spotting the dumb blonde for us.
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
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