Taxonomy is Not For Wimps Trivia Quiz

Answer: An echidna

In the Cretaceous period, some of the greatest known reptiles to have ever lived walked the earth (e.g. the well-known Tyrannosaurus rex), whilst mammals were small and relatively few in number. The rarity of cretaceous mammals led to dig leader Tim Rich answering "a cubic metre of chocolate", when asked what would be given to a person who found a mammalian bone on their 2005 dig in Dinosaur Cove, Victoria, Australia. As it would happen, a mammalian bone was found on this dig, and it was dated as being from the cretaceous period. Although Rich never had any real intention of providing this huge amount of chocolate, a nearby chocolate factory provided several chocolate bars for the group of diggers.

It is believed by some that Kryoryctes cadburyi was a member of the order, Monotremata (which includes the platypus), but as a femur and partial tooth was all that was found of this species, this assertion is often disputed.

Tachyglossidae is the family to which the echidna belongs.

Answer: Vampire squid from hell

The vampire squid from hell is a tiny deep-sea cephalopod which is covered in light-generating photophores. Its name comes from a combination of the fact that it lives in a practically lightless depth of the ocean and that its tentacles are covered in fang-like teeth.

Chun, who gave this specimen its eccentric name in 1903 believed it to be an octopus, whereas many others thought it was a squid. Since then, it had been found that the vampire squid is neither, but is rather the only extant member of the order, Vampyromorphida.

Answer: Apopyllus now

This small spider can be found on the island of Curacao off the coast of Venezuela and was named in 1984. These spiders are said to be very aggressive and to actively hunt their prey.

Several other members of the genus Apopyllus are to be found in South America.

Answer: That an alligator is a lizard

Alligator comes from the Spanish "el lagarto", meaning lizard.

Many of the best examples of names based on incorrect observation come from far back in history. For example, many sailors mistook dugong and manatees for mermaids, giving rise to the order, Sirenia.

It was also widely believed up until the 1800s that Lepas anatifera (a barnacle), fell into the sea and would grow into an adult barnacle goose. "Anatifera" means "goose bearing".

Answer: Tarantulas

The European wolf spider is known scientifically as Lycosa tarantula. The name tarantula, along with the name of the hysterical condition (Tarantism) and the dance which was said to cure this condition (Tarantella), comes from the word Taranta, which is the name of a southern Italian city (also called Taranto).

The European wolf spider is not to be confused with the American tarantula, which is the name given to a spider family (Theraphosidae) which encompasses the large, hairy spiders mentioned in the question.

Answer: Pieza pi

There are also species called Pieza rhea and Pieza kake - all types of fly.

Dypsis mcdonaldiana is a plant found exclusively on the island of Madagascar, and was named after the fast-food company which provided much funding to the expedition that allowed this plant to be discovered.

Answer: A sea snail

Although considered by many to be untrue, popular legend tells us that the name of the colour "Isabella" comes from the shade of Isabella's underwear after having worn them for three years. Albert VII, Archduke of Austria (Isabella's husband) laid siege to Ostend in 1601 and Isabella claimed that she would not change her underwear until the city was taken. The siege ended in 1604.

Vini vidivici (a recently extinct parrot) and Ytu brutus (a water beetle) were both named for Julius Caesar.

Answer: Dothi cancan

Reissa roni is a type of fly, Abra cadabra is a clam, and Oedipus complex is a lungless salamander.

It is often insects and other invertebrates which are given these jokey names. This is because there are so many insect species and they make up the majority of modern discoveries.

A particular favourite of mine is Ittibittium, a genus of sea snail that is slightly smaller than its brother genus, Bittium.

Answer: An earwig

Linnaeus was particularly keen on classifying bivalves and plants with names similar to those of sexual organs. To one type of clam he gave the names "vulva", "labia", "pubes", "anus" and "hymen". (Taken from Bill Bryson's "A History of Nearly Everything".)

Carl Linnaeus was an 18th century Swedish zoologist and botanist, who came up with the binomial naming system for plants and animals to replace the complex and muddled system which existed before. His simple and effective method of classification is still used today.

Answer: Fidel Castro

The naming of animals after famous persons has become more popular in recent years. Although most are named after tiny creatures, usually insects, some are linked with larger animals. Such examples include a lemur named after John Cleese, a plesiosaur named for David Attenborough, and an extinct turtle named after Terry Pratchett, who wrote of a world on the back of a giant turtle.

If you need any more proof that taxonomy is not for wimps, please read about the 2009 BBC expedition to New Guinea, or take my quiz, "Wild in New Guinea", to see how these scientists risked danger in this unknown environment to find new species of animals.