Description
by Bo Beolens, Michael Watkins & Michael Grayson
The authors have tracked down 1,609 honoured individuals and composed for each, a brief, pithy biography. In some cases these are a reminder of the courage of scientists whose dedicated research in remote locations exposed them to disease and even violent death. The eponym ensures that their memory will survive.
Sometimes a name refers not to a person but to a fictional character of mythical figure. The Forest Stubfoot Toad Atelopus farci is named after the FARC, a Colombial guerilla army who found refuge in the toad's habitat and thereby, it is claimed, protected by it. Hoipollo's Bubble-nest Frog Pseudophilautus hoipolloi was named after the Greek for 'the many', but someone assumed the reference was to a Dr Hoipollo.
Meanwhile, the man who has everything will never refuse an eponym, Treefrog Dendropsophus stingi is named after rock musician Sting, in honour of his commitment and efforts to save the rainforest.
Details
- ISBN: 9781907807411
- Author(s): Bo Beolens, Michael Watkins, Michael Grayson
- Stock Code: 7807411
- Format: Hardback
- Pages: 250
- Published: 2013
- Categories: