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Re: Species name etymology
Quoting Steve Walsh <steve.w@c-point.com>:
CHAMOSAURUS belli - referring to the Belly River
I think this is pretty unlikely, except as a sort of pun. I'd put my
money on it being named after some (male) person named Bell.
EDMONTONIA longiceps - Longus (Latin) = "long" and -ceps, referring
to the length of the species head
Yes, -ceps (actually -cept + -s) is a combining form of caput 'head'.
GALLIMIMUS bullatus - Bulla (Latin) = "stud" or "boss", referring to
the inflated braincase area of the skull
The intended meaning is probably more like 'bubble' or 'capsule',
something round and hollow. "Bullatus" = 'having a bulla, provided
with a bulla'.
TROODON formosus - Referring to the island of Formosa and alluding to
the splendor of the island and of the specimen.
'Splendid' works, or 'beautiful'. Basically, "formosus" = 'having a
(pleasing) form'.
--
Nick Pharris
Department of Linguistics
University of Michigan
"Creativity is the sudden cessation of stupidity."
--Edwin H. Land