Sunday, May 5, 2013

latin - How do you refer to a member of a biological taxon in the singular?



If I wish to refer to, say, an Owl in the more generic form as a member of the biological order Strigiformes, what is the correct modification of the apparently plural word into a singular form?



For instance:





Upon entering the forest, Jonothan was immediately assaulted by an angry [singular strigiformes].




Or:




The Manduca Sexta is a [singular lepidoptera] which feeds on a [singular solanaceae] during the larval phase, normally a Tobacco plant.



Answer



It depends:





  • One of the strigiformes is a strigiform. Or an owl.


  • One of the lepidoptera is a lepidopter:




    • 1881 Elwes tr. De S. Pinto’s How I crossed Afr. I. v. 120 ― This gigantic lepidopter, when young, feeds upon the grasses.


  • One of the solanaceae is a solanacean. Or a nightshade.




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