In a recent
paper published in Ichthyoloigical Explorations of Freshwaters, Pethiyagoda et. al just went through the laborious
task of teasing apart the tropical Asian cyprinid (i.e. small, colourful and
pretty freshwater fish) named Puntius,
a “catch-all” genus that comprised over 120 species. In this paper, the
researchers delved into the relationships between these species as well as
their morphological characteristics, organizing them into more detailed genuses
(geni?). One genus was called Dawkinsia,
in honor of the great (and not late!) Richard Dawkins.
Now I have always
admired Dawkins’s intellect and his contribution to evolutionary biology, and
am prone to defend him vehemently. Those who dislike what he has to say about
religion and atheism fine, dislike it, but I always argue that despite him
being more famous for that aspect of his career in the public, in scientific
circles he has made an enormous contribution, and the two things should be
considered separately. It tires me that most people only know him as the
Atheist Boogeyman, because he is so much more than that.
Anyway,
despite what I think, it’s pretty badass to have a fish genus named after you,
especially when you’re still around to know about it. It is also infinitely
cooler than naming the species after yourself, which some people are prone to
do.
Anyway, I
tip my metaphorical hat to you Mr. Dawkins! Hope to be reading more of your
books soon enough.
Source: Pethiyagoda, R., Meegaskumbura, M.,
Maduwage, K. (2012). A synopsis of the
South Asian fishes referred to Puntius (Pisces: Cyprinidae). Ichthyol.
Explor. Freshwaters, 23:1 6
In reference to your point of the (shameful) practice of naming a species after oneself, there was an entertaining case where an ichthyologist demanded that a catfish he'd found was named after him. The chap doing the classifying ended up calling it Corydoras narcissus.
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