Question

Discuss the etymologies of the following scientific names. Use any resources you need to discuss why these scientific names are (or are not) appropriate for the taxa carrying them. For example, you might state something like “Arborporphyriflos” (which does not exist) means “a tree with purple flowers”, so the etymology would be appropriate for a plant like that because the genus means tree (Arbor) and the specific epithet means purple flower (porphyriflos); however, if the tree was observed to produce yellow flowers the name’s etymology becomes somewhat inaccurate as a descriptor. Clearly, you will have to judge for yourself based on what you find out about these organisms:

1. Eleutherodactylusportoricensis:

2. Helianthusannuus:

Answer 1

Eleutherodactylus portoricensis

It is a frog. It is native to Puerto Rico. So the species name is portoricensis and is approppriate.

It belongs to family Eleutherodactylae. The name Eleutherodactylus is derived from the Greek words for 'free-toed', composed of the Ancient Greek eleutheros meaning free or unbound and dactylos meaning finger or toe. Thus the genus name is approppriate since its toes are indeed free.

Helianthus annuus

It is the common sunflower grown as a crop for edible oil ans edible fruits. It is an annual plant. That means its life cycle lasts only one year. Thus the species name annuus is approppriate. because it is an annual plant.

The genus name Helianthus is derived from a Greek word and a flower part. Helia is derived from the greek word Helios, which is the sun god of Greek mythology and anthus is derived from the flower part anther. The flower faces the sun always. That is its anther is facing the sun always and thus, the genus name is approppriate.