Etymologies of All Anoles – Anole Annals

Amassing reptile names is one factor, nevertheless it’s a unique factor to determine what these names truly imply. On the Reptile Database we’ve collected the etymologies of greater than 11,000 reptile species, however there are nonetheless lots of gaps for subspecies and synonyms. I’m wondering if anybody within the Anole neighborhood is concerned with that topic.

Extra particularly, there are 434 species of anoles with a complete of 109 subspecies (excluding nominate subspecies), that’s, a complete of 543 names. Of these, we do have the etymologies of over 500 taxa, however there are at the least 32 lacking (all Caribbean subspecies). Right here is the checklist:

• Anolis allogus BARBOUR & RAMSDEN 1919
• Anolis confusus ESTRADA & GARRIDO 1991
• Anolis homolechis (COPE 1864)
• Anolis loysiana (COCTEAU 1836)
• Anolis lucius DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1837

As well as, we want the etymology of the next subspecies:

The technology-minded amongst chances are you’ll say, certain, that’s straightforward, simply ask ChatGPT what these names imply. Here’s what ChatGPT says concerning the first 3 of them:

• Anolis equestris potior:
  • potior: Latin for “higher,” “superior,” or “extra essential.” This might counsel that this subspecies is seen as a extra distinctive or notable type in comparison with others.
• Anolis strahmi abditus:
  • abditus: Latin for “hidden” or “hid.” This would possibly point out a subspecies that’s tough to search out, maybe as a result of a cryptic life-style or distant habitat.
• Anolis lineatopus ahenobarbus:
  • ahenobarbus: Latin for “bronze-bearded” (ahenus which means “bronze” and barba which means “beard”). This seemingly refers to a characteristic akin to a bronze or reddish coloration on the chin or throat.

You’ll be able to see that ChatGPT has a reasonably good grasp of Latin, and it might make good educated guesses, however it’s usually not fairly certain concerning the finer particulars behind species names.

On the subject of eponyms, it’s a lot worse. Right here is an instance for a few of the eponyms of Pholidoscelis auberi (apologies, not an anole, however a Caribbean Teiid with at the moment 39 subspecies, of which at the least 10 are eponyms, so it’s an excellent instance). Let’s check out these 10, particularly

• Pholidoscelis auberi auberi (COCTEAU 1838)
• Pholidoscelis auberi garridoi (SCHWARTZ 1970)
• Pholidoscelis auberi granti (SCHWARTZ 1970)
• Pholidoscelis auberi hardyi (SCHWARTZ 1970)
• Pholidoscelis auberi kingi (MCCOY 1970)
• Pholidoscelis auberi orlandoi (SCHWARTZ & MCCOY 1975)
• Pholidoscelis auberi paulsoni (SCHWARTZ in SCHWARTZ & MCCOY 1970)
• Pholidoscelis auberi richmondi (MCCOY in SCHWARTZ & MCCOY 1970)
• Pholidoscelis auberi schwartzi (GALI & GARRIDO 1987)
• Pholidoscelis auberi zugi (SCHWARTZ in SCHWARTZ & MCCOY 1970)

Here’s what ChatGPT says:

1. auberi: Named after Paul Aubert, a naturalist or explorer, as many species are named in honor of people. It was first described by Jean Theodore Cocteau in 1838, therefore the title Pholidoscelis auberi auberi.
2. garridoi: Possible named after an individual with the surname Garrido, honoring their contribution to science.
3. orlandoi: Possible named after a person named Orlando, probably in honor of an individual or place related to the subspecies’ discovery or description.

I prevent the remaining ones, since you get the gist: ChatGPT has no concept who these persons are, together with the namesake of P. a. auberi, which  was not named after Paul Aubert, as ChatGPT claims, however relatively after Pedro Alejandro Auber (1786-1843), a Cuban botanist and naturalist of French origin (née Pierre Alexandre Auber). The one eponym ChatGPT obtained proper was Pholidoscelis auberi schwartzi, named after Albert Schwartz (1923-1992), the doyen of Caribbean herpetology — one out of ten. Ouch!

So, in case you are concerned with etymology, of Anolis or in any other case, please let me know. As mentioned, we’ve about 100o reptile names in want of clarification.

Thanks 🙂

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