I used to often go through lists, google searches, and so on looking for funny/weird animal names. I have made quite a few lists already, and I thought I would make a post here to see if some of you know some good ones. plants and fungi also welcome :) Here are some of my favorites that I can fin…

Now I can’t stop saying “Chachalaca” to myself.

As Mothman, the leader of moths I am very confused as to why there is a group of my followers who are referred to as ‘The Brick’. Why are they called bricks

Because Their real leader is brick houses. Brick houses exert real power on them. They must land on them and watch the lights around them. They’ve been keeping it a secret from you. Just kidding, I don’t know why :laughing:

[image] phma: The definite tussock moth is definitely a tussock moth! The genus name Orgyia looks like it’s from the Greek for “fathom”. I can’t fathom why. I just found this: The genus name Orgyia is from the ancient Greek word ὄργυια , órgyia - ‘outstretched arms’. So named because, when a…

[image] phma: Unequal cellophane bee. The stuff cellophane bees line their nests with is actually polyester, not cellophane, But what’s it unequal to? The segments of the antennae are apparently unequal.

[image] phma: The species name ονοκροταλος sounds like it means “donkey rattle”. I fail to see how you can cross a donkey and a rattlesnake and get a pelican. Probably comes from their calls …which, if you’ve ever heard a Pelican calling, it doesn’t sound like any noise that should come out o…

I think it’s more likely from Pre-Greek and reshaped by folk etymology.

Let me add one more - I have not read every post in this topic so some may be repeats - Restless flycatcher Jacky winter Sarcastic fringeback Slippery dick Monkeyface prickleback Sparklemuffin Aha ha Foa fo Gea eff Tor tor There is a genus of plants named “Aa”. Mobydickia poseidonii

Also add this one - Eryx elegans which somewhere not as elegant as it’s name though.

Spongiforma squarepantsii. A sponge-like fungus named after the famed cartoon character, Spongebob Squarepants.

Funny, long, or just plain weird animal names

Nature Talk

GothHobbit March 19, 2026, 11:23pm 907

Probably comes from their calls …which, if you’ve ever heard a Pelican calling, it doesn’t sound like any noise that should come out of a bird.

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Funny, long, or just plain weird animal names

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