Re: A new T. rex — of leeches

[Dan Chure <danchure@easilink.com>]

I would suspect there is a genus of insect with a generic name based on 
Tyrannus that predates T rex.  Tyrannus is a genus of flycatcher, 
although I'm not sure when that generic name came into being.

Dan



Raymond Ancog wrote:
> Not directly dino-related, but it does illustrate the impact of the 
> name of the everyman's presumed favorite dinosaur. The new leech is 
> named Tyrannobdella rex, "tyrant leech king," by invertebrate experts 
> at AMNH. (Any of dino experts there had a role in suggesting the 
> name?) I won't be surprised if in the future other "tyrant whatever 
> kings" will be named by sticking the appropriate suffic after 
> "Tyranno", like Tyrannotherium rex, Tyrannosuchus rex, Tyrannornis rex 
> etc. Or have they already? Oh wait, the Fox News article says it's 
> been done already.
>
> http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/04/100415-new-species-t-rex-leech-orifices/ 
>
> http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/15/trex-leech-enormous-teeth/
>
>
> Raymond Thaddeus C. Ancog
> Mines and Geosciences Bureau
> Philippines