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SPECIES NAMES PAGE 'A' Species (second name: a group of organisms generally resembling each other and capable of reproduction).
Genus Names A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A

*abdulkalami*	Named for the former president of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who ignited young minds towards the real world of Science and Technology.
abilhoai	In honour of Vinícius Abilhoa, curator of fishes, Museu de História Natural do Capão de Imbuia (Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil), who collected some of the type series, and who has been of great assistance to the authors in this and other studies (Ancistrus abilhoai).
absconditus	Hidden, referring to its misidentification as P. maculatus (due to presence of dots) and with species of Iheringichthys (due to its thick lips).
*acanthomias*	Very spiny.
*acanthoperca*	Latinised combination of the Greek 'acantha', meaning a thorn, and the Latin 'opercul', meaning a cover or lid, alluding to the distinctive opercular spines developed by mature males in this species.
acicularis	needlelike, referring to long, slender supraoccipital spine that most readily distinguishes it from its congeners (Sperata acicularis).
*acre*	Named after Acre, the location where the fish was collected.
*acrensis*	From Acre, the state in Brazil where the species was found and L. -ensis, denoting place, locality, country.
acsi	By the Planetary Biodiversity Inventory Program of the National Science Foundation.
*aculeatus*	With prickles, (referring to the spines on the pectoral fins).
*acus/tus*	Pointed; a neadle or spine.
*acutirostre/is*	Pointed snout.
adiposalis	–alis, adjectival suffix: referring to long adipose fin, much longer than anal fin (Tachysurus adiposalis).
*adolfoi*	Named in honour of Adolfo Schwartz.
*adonis*	Handsome, after Adonis, beloved of Venus.
*aenea/us*	Bronze.
aequinoctialis	Latin for equinoctial (but here apparently meaning equatorial), referring to its type locality just 13’ south of the equator in Ecuador, (Transancistrus aequinoctialis).
*affinis*	Neighbouring; related.
*adriaensi*	The specific name is patronymic in honor of Dr. Dominique Adriaens, who brought the existence of this species to the authors attention.
*africanus*	From Africa.
*afrofischeri*	In honour of Dr. G. A. Fischer.
*agassizi*	In honour of Jean Louis Agassiz, the zoologist, born in Switzerland, (1807-1873).
*ahli*	In honour of Dr. Ernest Ahl, born in Berlin in 1898, and reported missing in the Second World War.
akroa	A reference to the Akroá indigenous people, inhabitants of lands from eastern Tocantins to southern Piauí until the XIX century (Apolinário, 2005). The Akroá lived along valleys on Serra Geral do Tocantins, a watershed divide between the right margin of Rio Tocantins and Rio Parnaíba upper valleys respectively. Their territory included the Rio Manuel Alves sub-basin of Rio Tocantins, distribution range of the new Tatia species (Tatia akroa). A noun in apposition.
*aky*	aky (language: guaraní) = green.
*albater*	albus = white; ater = black.
albicrux	albus, white; crux, cross, referring to white cross-like marking when viewed from above (Trachelyopterus albicrux).
albinotatus	albus (L.), white; notatus (L.), marked, referring to white marks on upper body (Trichomycterus albinotatus).
*albivermus*	Meaning; alba = white and vermis = worm, relating to the white to yellow lines on the body.
*albofasciatus*	With white bands or stripes.
*albolineatus*	albus, white; lineatus, lined, referring to white midlateral stripe or line that runs length of lateral-line canal (Mystus albolineatus).
albomarginatus	albus, white; marginatus, margined, referring to white edges on dorsal, pelvic and caudal fins (Tachysurus albomarginatus).
*alberti*	Probably named for Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria.
*aldebaran*	The epithet “aldebaran” refers to the red giant Aldebaran or Alpha Tauri (a Tauri), the brightest star of the Taurus constellation, deriving from the Arabic al Dabaran, which means “the follower”. The star presents a bright orange glow and it is positioned at the left eye of the mythological bull. The name alludes to the fact that Aspidoras aldebaran was firstly found among Aspidoras taurus type series, being promptly recognised as a different and new species by its peculiar morphology and colour pattern. A noun in apposition.
*alga*	Etymology not explained, possibly referring to algae, a food item in its largely herbivorous diet (Ancistrus alga).
almendarizi	The specific name honours Ana de Lourdes Almendáriz, in recognition of her significant contributions to the Ecuador herpetofauna knowledge, and her enthusiasm and friendship for many years. Noun in apposition.
alphabelardense	Alpha, first letter of Greek alphabet; abelardense, Portuguese word referring to people born in Abelardo Luz municipality (Santa Catarina State, Brazil), the first new species described from this area (Cambeva alphabelardanse).
*altae*	In honour of Alta Dunn (wife of herpetologist Emmett Reid Dunn, see Tatia dunni), who first brought this species to Fowler’s attention (Duringlanis altae).
altipinnis	altus, high; pinnis, fin, referring to the elevated dorsal fin (Parauchenoglanis altipinnis).
altipombensis	The name altipombensis is an allusion to the occurrence of the new species in the upper section of the Rio Pomba (Trichomycterus altipombensis).
alula	winglet, allusion not explained, perhaps referring to flattened and expanded wing-like fins, an adaptation to fast water (Congoglanis alula).
*amandajanea*	This Corydoras is dedicated to Mrs. Amanda Jane Sands.
*amapaensis*	From Amapa, the state in Brazil where this Corydoras species was found and ensis = denoting place, locality, country.
amaurus	ark, referring to the dark chocolate coloration (Bunocephalus amaurus).
*amaxanthum*	The specific name refers to the distribution of the species in the Amazon basin and its relationship to the species Megalonema xanthum.
*amazonicus*	From the Amazon river basin.
*ambiacus*	After the River Ambiacu, currently spelled Rio Ampiyacu.
*amphibelus*	Greek for amphi = around on both sides; belos = dart, arrow, bolt, sting, an allusion to the dorsal-and pectoral spines.
*analis*	Latin for anal, referring to longer anal fin compared to Leiocassis (=Pelteobagrus) ussuriensis (Tachysurus analis).
*anamalai*	Named for the Anamalai hills of Kerela, India.
*ananas*	From the generic name for the pineapple, Ananas (Bromeliaceae). The specific name ananas is an allusion to stout body and spiny appearance of species due to presence of additional row(s) of spines on lateral plates (Physopyxis ananas).
ancistroides	Neo-Latin from ei´dos, form or shape: referring to its resemblance to some species of Ancistrus (Hypostomus ancistroides).
*andersoni*	Named after Anderson.
anduzei	In honour of Pablo J. Anduze (1902-1989), Venezuelan explorer, ethnologist, medical entomologist, and former governor of Amazonas State, Venezuela, for his continued interest in the natural history of Venezuela’s Amazon region (Trachelyopterichthys anduzei).
*angelica/us*	Heavenly, devine, (young fish are unusually beautifully coloured).
*angolensis*	From Angola.
*anguilla*	An eel.
*anguillicauda*	With an eel-like tail.
*anguillaris*	Like an eel.
*anhaguapitan*	Named for the devil, called Anhaguapitã in Tupí lengend, whose clash with St. Peter, in which the saint became dead birds and the devil became rain and small stones, created the Uruguay River of southern Brazil, where this catfish occurs (Rineloricaria anhaguapitan).
anisitsi	The specific name of anisitsi: in honour of Juan Daniel Anisits (1856-1911), National University of Paraguay, who provided Indiana University with a “well-preserved” collection of fishes, including type of this one (Homodietus anisiti).
*anitae*	The specific name anitae, noun in the genitive, is given in honour of Anita Garibaldi, character of the Farroupilha Revolution.
*annectens*	Connecting, joining, (probably means a connecting link between two species).
*annulatus*	Latin adjective meaning ringed, in reference to the caudal-peduncle band with a light inner region (Phenacorhamdia macarenensis).
*ansorgei*	In honour of Dr. W.J. Ansorge, the English collector.
*aor*	From the Bengali common name for this fish: "AYRE" for Sperata aor.
apeltogaster	a-, without; pelta, small shield; gaster, belly, “Breast and belly naked, or with small stellate shields” (Loricaria apeltogaster).
apiaka	Named for the indigenous tribe Apiaká, meaning 'people' in Tupi language, which originally occupied the middle and lower rio Arinos, lower rio Juruena, but is nowadays restricted to the lower rio Juruena. The tribe is known for facial tattoos and bravery in battles, as well as by anthropophagic rites after fights. A noun in apposition.
*apus*	From the Greek; a- meaning without and pous, meaning foot; in reference to the lack of any pelvic fins.
*apogon*	Without a beard, (barbels).
*approuaguensis*	Named after the River Approuague, where it was collected.
*aguaboensis*	Named for Água Boa, its type locality; an adjective.
*araguaiaensis*	Named after the Rio Araguaia, where it was collected.
araxa	Reference to the occurrence of the new species in the region of Araxá, a historical Brazilian city founded in the 18th century, during the colonial period. The word araxa is possibly derived from the Tupi-Guarani to designate some native people formerly inhabiting the region.
*arcuatus*	Arched, like a bow, (referring to the stripe).
*ardiladuartei*	The specific name is a tribute to the authors son, biologist Carlos Alfonso Ardila Duarte, with whom they collected this species (Astroblepus) in its type locality.
*areio*	From Córrego (Portuguese, meaning creek) Areio, a river system in Brazil where the species was found.
*arecuta*	Named from a Guaraní word arecutá, meaning loricariid fish.
*argentea/us*	Coloured with silver.
argentina	From the country of Argentina.
*argus*	Named after a cow-herd of Greek legend, who was supposed to have one hundred eyes scattered all over his body, ( a reference to the fishes spots).
argyropleuron	arguros, silver; pleuron, side, referring to the silver belly and sides (Plicofollis argyropleuron).
*armatus*	Armed, armoured, alluding to the dorsal fin spine.
*armbrusteri*	Patronym honouring Jonathan W. Armbruster, ichthyologist, Associate Professor, and Curator of Fishes at the Auburn University Museum Fish Collection, for his many contributions to the field of ichthyology, and to our understanding of the Loricariidae in particular. A noun in apposition. (Lujan et al 2010).
*arnoldeye/i*	In honour of Johann Paul Arnold, born in Germany, 1869-1952.
*arnoulti*	In honour of ichthyologist-herpetologist Jacques Arnoult (1914-1995), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris), for help and encouragement in the exploration of wildlife in the Republic of Upper Volta (Synodontis arnoulti).
*arunachalense*	From its type locality of Arunachal Pradesh, India.
*asopos*	Derived from the greek river god "Asopos", given in reference to the widespread distribution of this fish throughout Amazonian drainages. (Mastiglanis asopos).
*assamensis*	From its shark-like appearance, especially to the shape of the snout.
*assimilis*	Latin for similar, described as “closely allied” to Hexanematichthys hymenorrhinos (= Sciades herzbergii) and A. seemanni (Ariopsis assimils).
*asterifrons*	The specific name asterifrons: asterias, starry; frons, brow, allusion not explained, presumably referring to raised superciliary margin, creating elevated (e.g., stargazing) eyes (Astrodoras asterifrons).
asterophysa	Specific name is derived from the Greek aster, meaning star, and physa, meaning bladder, alluding to the proliferation of diverticula along the periphery of the gas bladder which distinguishes Ossancora asterophysa from Ossancora eigenmanni. An adjective.
*asurini*	The specific name “asurini” is a reference to the Asurini indigenous peoples who inhabit the right margin and median portions of rio Xingu, close to the municipality of Altamira in Pará State, Brazil. A noun in apposition.
atahualpa	In reference to Atahualpa who reigned from 1515 to 1533 as the last ruler of the Inca Empire that encompassed the region from which the population samples of this species originated.
*ater*	Black.
*aterrimus*	Very black, referring to “noir profound” colouration on lower part of body, an example of inverse pigmentation in which ventral surface is darker than dorsal surface (a countershading adaptation to swimming upside-down at the water’s surface) (Synodontis aterrimus).
atesuensis	–ensis, suffix denoting place: Atesu River, Ghana, type locality (also occurs in Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Ivory Coast) (Amphilius atesuensis).
*atherinoides*	–oides, having the form of: silversides (Atherinidae: Atherina), probably referring to silvery stripe on sides.
*atratoensis*	Named afer the locality , the Atro River basin, Colombia.
*atratus*	From the Latin atratus, meaning clothed in black, in reference to the dark colouration of this species in preservative (Gogo atratus).
atrifasciatus	ater, black; fasciatus, banded, referring to distinct, dark lateral band traversing lateral line (Mystus atrifasciatus).
*atrizona*	With black bands or zones.
atrobrunnea	From the Latin ater (dull black, dark) and brunneus (brown), referring to the predominant colour of the flank in adult specimens of the new species (Cambeva atrobrunnea).
atronasus	atrum, black; nasus, nose, referring to intense black pigmentation on tip of snout in live and freshly preserved specimens (Tympanopleura atronasus).
*atropersonatus*	From the Latin atropersonatus = 'with a black mask' alluding to the mask across the eye.
aulopygia	aulos, tube or pipe; pyge, rump or buttocks, referring to the genital papilla over anterior anal-fin rays of males (Tatia aulopygia).
aurantiacus	Orange-coloured, referring to “bright orange-yellow” colour (translation) in life (Tachysurus aurantiacus).
*auratus*	Overlaid with gold.
*aureum*	Colour of gold.
*aurita/us*	Eared.
*aurofrenatus*	From the Latin aurum = ‘gold’ and frenatum = ‘bridled’.
auroguttatus	aureus (L.), golden; guttatus (L.), spotted, referring to golden spots (alternating with dark spots) on posterior half of body, and a row of gold spots on midline of back, behind dorsal-fin base (Trichomycterus auroguttatus).
*australis*	From the Latin adjective australis, meaning southern, in reference to the new species representing the southernmost record of Ituglanis.
avanhandavae	Of Salto Avanhandava, Brazil, waterfall on the Rio Tietê, type locality (Pimelodella avanhandavae).
*axelrodi*	In honour of Dr Herbert Richard Axelrod.
azaghal	The epithet azaghal refers to a fictional character within the fantastic universe created by the South African/British writer, poet, philologist, and academic, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973). Azaghâl was the king of the Broad-beam Dwarves, one of the seven dwarf clans, and Lord of the dwarven realm of Belegost in the Blue Mountains during Middle Earth's First Age. The name comes from a double allusion, first about the region where the species was found, Terra do Meio, freely translated as Middle Earth in English, name of the fictional world of Tolkien's legendarium, and second by the fact that the new species occurs in a mountainous region and presents a relatively small size, which are both typical features of the fictional dwarves.
azpelicuetae	The species is named azpelicuetae after Dr. María de las Mercedes Azpelicueta, in recognition of her prominent contributions to ichthyology, especially to the systematics of Argentinian fishes. She described numerous species and was essential to the formation of subsequent generations of freshwater fish systematists in Argentina. Amatronym in genitive case (Farlowella).

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SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

SPECIES NAMES PAGE 'A'

Genus Names A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A