How to pronounce scientific names

HRPuffersnStuff · Post by **HRPuffersnStuff** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:18 pm

Okay, the thing is, I would like to know how to pronouce some of the puffer names, do you think we can include a pronounciation next to their scientific names? I am often confused on exactly how to say some of the names and I find that I am always explaining to people what kind of fish they are really buying, but I do not know how to correctly pronounce their names. I just thought this might be a good addition to the pufferpedia and make it easier for the members here to be able to ask for exactly what they want at their LFS without looking like a dope. It is so funny when a fellow fish-freak asks me what kind of fish I have, and allthough I know so much about them, I cannot correctly pronounce their names.

Post by **Myaj** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:24 am

Oh I know how you feel. I called cichlids "chick-lids" for years because while I read the word online, I'd never heard it come out of someone's mouth before.

I think Ceylons are "say-lon", but beyond that I just guess.

And as far as scientific names, whoo boy, latin lessons are needed there hehe.

I'll have to check around and see if I can find any pronuciation keys, might be able to find some but don't hold your breath.

PetPirate · Post by **PetPirate** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:47 am

Yeah -- I'd be up for putting a link to a latin name pronunciation key somewhere.

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:01 pm

I know how its pronounced but I still call them chicklets because they pop each other and everything else into their mouths.

HRPuffersnStuff · Post by **HRPuffersnStuff** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:40 pm

Haha! I also needed the help getting the Sicklids pronunciation right... I think I might still say it funny... lol. I am glad somone else thought this was a good idea as I was beginning to think I was the only one who couldn't speak latin....

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:57 pm

HRPuffersnStuff wrote:... as I was beginning to think I was the only one who couldn't speak latin....

Well its not like its a dead language or anything.

Post by **Myaj** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:00 pm

I have trouble with latin because I've been in various choirs for years...

So I tend to lean towards the "church latin" pronounciations and not the "scientific latin" way of doing it. So I just keep my mouth shut or I get yelled at! hehe

puffergeek · Post by **puffergeek** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 7:11 pm

Myaj wrote:I have trouble with latin because I've been in various choirs for years...

Hehe... I hear that. Now I've got Bruckner going through my head!

Ave Maria, gratia plena Tetraodon tecum...

I also slaughtered the pronunciation cichlids for years. I'm still uncomfortable with "miurus" for goodness sake. Is it meer-ous or mie-u-rous?

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:31 pm

i've been cursed with that since i started keeping fish. i just do my best and most people figure out what i'm busy mutilating.

doenst help me that lately it seems that every time i turn around they are reclassifyign africans and poof its back to am i look in this damnable TFH book for Haplochromis....Pseudotropheus...Maylandia....ect...the books i'mworking with are older than i am in some cases and not only do i need to know what i'm lookign for i need to be a freakin historian to recall what it USED to be lol.

jason

Post by **Myaj** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 8:20 pm

Heheh.. I've gotten better now that I've been actively going to local auctions and the ACA conventions. Before they'd say it 5 times and all of a sudden I'd realize "hey, they're talking about a bristlenose!". Or worse, the auction would be won, and the guy would say "someone just got some great bristlenose plec's for a great price" and I'd be angry because that's what I was looking for..

Still, I have reverted many, many times to just spelling it out!

Browncloud · Post by **Browncloud** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:03 pm

You speak more latin than you know.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:57 pm

ah but is it spoken correctly

....after all american english mutilates pretty much everything

jason

puffer_puff · Post by **puffer_puff** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:35 am

Myaj wrote:I'm still uncomfortable with "miurus" for goodness sake. Is it meer-ous or mie-u-rous?

I believe it's "miurius," not "miurus." So it's pronounced either <mee-yoor-ee-us> or <myoor-ee-us>.

Then again, other sites say it's "miurus." So <mee-yoor-us> or <myoor-us> in that case.

manutius · Post by **manutius** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:37 am

I'd go with myoor-ee-us meself but latin isn't a common dialect in Essex

indie · Post by **indie** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 6:46 am

ive always wondered.... how to u pronounce mbu puffer?

is it just M B U? cos im sure i heard someone at the lfs say M boo

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How to pronounce scientific names

How to pronounce scientific names