Quiz: Can you guess the scientific names of these well-known animals?
Latin names are an essential part of understanding the natural world, but, with a couple of exceptions, they’ve failed to gain a foothold in the public consciousness. Most people know that humans are homo sapiens, but beyond that, nada.
It’s a shame really, because the world of latin names can be fabulously surreal. There are animals named after naturalists (attenborougharion rubicundus), species named after Star Wars characters (the trilobite, han solo), and those seemingly named purely to annoy those foolish enough to type them (parastratiosphecomyia stratiosphecomyioides).
Even the most familiar creatures can have names that are just plain weird. We’ve compiled a quiz featuring some of our best-known and best-loved animals, alongside a couple of wild cards that are neither. We wish you luck.
The Press Association
Latest posts by The Press Association (see all)
- World Penguin Day: Test your knowledge with our penguin-themed quiz - April 23, 2024
- Kate’s new photo of Louis released to celebrate prince’s sixth birthday - April 23, 2024
- Alan Titchmarsh: Slugs are never going to be my friends - April 23, 2024
- Prince Louis celebrates sixth birthday - April 23, 2024
- Special episode of Planet Earth III to be narrated by schoolchildren - April 22, 2024