NEW SERIES! ZANY ZOOLOGY

This short course is the first in the new Zany Zoology series and will introduce students to scientific names in zoology. We will review the origin, history, and purpose of the biological nomenclature system, including consideration of how common names can sometimes cause confusion and not match up with how animals are classified scientifically. We will also learn the basics of constructing and reading scientific names, including reviewing the most commonly encountered Latin and Greek elements and looking at how many scientific names also incorporate the names of people (eponyms) and/or geography (toponyms). Last but certainly not least, we will take a deep dive into the fun and whacky side of scientific naming, including tautonyms which consist of names with two or three identical words (e.g., Bubo bubo bubo, the true scientific name of the European Eagle-Owl), animals whose names include humorous references to pop culture (e.g., Spongiforma Squarepantsii), and other cases of just having fun with taxonomy (e.g., naming a newly discovered genus of tiny frogs Mini, just to be able to name the three species Mini ature,  Mini mum, and Mini scule!).

The primary mode of instruction will be multimedia slides accompanied by lecture, with Q&A breaks as time permits. Students will also have the opportunity to share some of their favorite animals which we can then use as examples to look up and learn their scientific names, and can also choose to have fun constructing their own scientific names, such as for a Pokémon or their own imaginary creature!  Reference sheets and OPTIONAL worksheets and activities will also be provided for students wishing to spend more time learning about fundamentals such as Latin and Greek roots and/or general taxonomy (the Domain/Kingdom systems that the genus/species scientific names are taken from).