Abstract
Leading zoologist and taxonomist Ernest Marcus (1893-1968) and his school described numerous new invertebrate taxa, including planarians, or triclads (Platyhelminthes). These authors rarely provided the etymology of names for the new taxa. In this paper, the etymology of 149 names of genera and specific epithets of planarians lacking etymology (or honoring people) is investigated. The etymology of most names was retrieved from original descriptive papers and from Eudóxia Maria Froehlich’s recollections, a fellow of Marcus’ school. It was discovered that the names were usually freely derived from words of the language spoken in the country where the species was found. Some names were motivated by an aspect of the biology of the species. Other names honored people or are arbitrary. The etymology of 19 names could not be retrieved and are only suggested. The origin of another 19 names could not be discovered, nor even their meaning. Knowing the etymology makes it easier to memorize a name and it is a way to preserve the historical and emotional aspects of the authors. Through the retrieved etymologies, the personality of Marcus can also be glimpsed.
Highlights
Roots may be formed in several ways Foucault, 1994, The order of thingsFrom the dawn of history, humans were already taxonomists
Leading zoologist and taxonomist Ernest Marcus (1893‐1968) and his school described numerous new invertebrate taxa, including planarians, or triclads (Platyhelminthes). These authors rarely provided the etymology of names for the new taxa
The etymology of most names was retrieved from original descriptive papers and from Eudóxia Maria Froehlich’s recollections, a fellow of Marcus’ school
Summary
From the dawn of history, humans were already taxonomists. By distinguishing linguistically food from non-food, potential predators from non-predators, they increased survival chances (Dunn & Davison, 1968; Raven et al, 1971). It was Linnaeus’s binomial nomenclature in the 18th century that made species names universal. Over 1.87 million species have received a scientific name, of which 1.28 are animals (http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col, access: 25/07/2020). Estimates point to about 7.77 million animal species on Earth (Mora et al, 2011), 76% of them not yet described. Coining a name is probably the only place for taxonomists to express themselves
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
