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: Pieza kake
Don’t get it? This ones easy - an absolute piece of cake.
What is it? It's a small furry fly. The name Pieza is derived from the Greek “piezos” meaning to squeeze, referring to the peculiar shape of the female's sperm pump.
Where’s it found? Brazil, specifically the campus of the Federal University of Minas Gerais.
When was it first named? 2002.
Who deserves the credit? Neal Evenhuis, who has the tough task of working out in Hawaii most of the time. Doc Evenhuis has lots of imaginative names under his belt; keep an eye for him in future nutty nomenclatures.
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Is there a picture? No picture of Pieza kake unfortunately, you'll have to make do with the now extinct and less pleasingly named Pieza dominicana (click image to enlarge). Other excellently named species in the Pieza genus include Pieza pi, Pieza rhea and Pieza deresistans (piece de resistance for anyone as slow as me). Coming soon in Nutty Nomenclature: Ba humbugi and Heerz lukenatcha.
But for the time being here's a couple of bits in a similar vein:
Monday: Phunny Phobias
Wednesday: Doctor Doctor
Thursday: Peculiar Periodicals
Friday: End of week timewasters
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