Re: Giant birds

["João S. Lopes Filho" <jodan99@uol.com.br>]

Ameghino have some interesting and odd ways of naming his findings, and he
liked inverted names. So, Phororhachos is the invertion of Rhacophoros.
Compare with the examples of Mylodon and Lymodon; Hoplophorus and
Plohophorus.
----- Original Message -----
From: Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>
To: <NJPharris@aol.com>; <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2001 6:10 PM
Subject: Re: Giant birds


>
> Nick Pharris wrote:
>
> >_Phorusrhacus_.  Formerly known as _Phororhacus_ (If I had my way, it
still
> >would be.  The latter is etymologically better as well as easier to say.)
> >I
> >can't seem to figure out what it means.  My Greek dictionary gives me
weird
> >translations like "ragged tribute".
>
> I think the name _Phorusrhacus_ means "branch-bearing" or "branch-holding"
> (Gk. *phorein/phoros* = to bear or carry [as in Phosphorus -
> "light-bringer"] + *rhakhos/rhakos* = branch or spine).  According to the
> version I was told, Ameghino originally thought the jaw came from a
> prehistoric sloth rather than a large bird.
>
> The tree frog genus _Rhacophorus_ has the same derivation.
>
>
> Tim
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Timothy J. Williams
>
> USDA/ARS Researcher
> Agronomy Hall
> Iowa State University
> Ames IA 50014
>
> Phone: 515 294 9233
> Fax:   515 294 3163
>
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