# Funny, long, or just plain weird animal names

**URL:** <https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/funny-long-or-just-plain-weird-animal-names/3220>\
**Category:** Nature Talk\
**Tags:** mostly-humor, fun, common-names\
**Created:** [May 13, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/funny-long-or-just-plain-weird-animal-names/3220 "2019-05-13T17:51:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 201

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**Author:** ![haemocyanin11](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/haemocyanin11/32/12951_2.png) [@haemocyanin11](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/haemocyanin11)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/funny-long-or-just-plain-weird-animal-names/3220/201 "2020-10-04T00:19:24Z")

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I always found it weird that the Peppered Moth, _Biston betularia cognataria_, and the entire Tribe Bistonini are named after a Greek Demigod of War, Biston.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/d/d2d56b198ab5b02ddef829176f82f4799d695903.jpeg)  
[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54057004](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54057004) by @jeanniefraser.

Does this cute moth look like a raging Atreus to you?

In any case, one possible version of the translation - Related Birch; Son of War; Son of River - would be awesome alternative name for any animal in general.

Also, Bistonini sounds like a fancy panini sandwich that would be served at an expensive restaurant.

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