# Great, funny, or weird species names in other languages **URL:** \ **Category:** Nature Talk\ **Created:** [March 21, 2020, 7:58am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910 "2020-03-21T07:58:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![boguo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/boguo/32/6899_2.png) [@boguo](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/boguo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/21 "2020-03-26T19:55:19Z")
That is amazing, thank you! I really love this name. Delicious has similar connotations in English, could be very tasty or something extremely pleasing, delightful. The word **porost** also derives from something that grows (rosnąć), or grows over something (porastać), that is what I got my translation from. ---
**Author:** ![dep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/278dde/32.png) [@dep](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/dep)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/22 "2020-03-26T20:15:48Z")
My favorite is a french common name for dandelions\*: pissenlit. That word comes from “pisse en lit”, which translates to “pee in bed”. Dandelion is apparently a diuretic :) \*the word dandelion itself comes from the french, “dent de lion” which means “lion’s tooth”. That refers to the shape of the leaves. It’s not nearly as interesting/funny though. ---
**Author:** ![carnifex](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/carnifex/32/62_2.png) [@carnifex](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/carnifex)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/23 "2020-03-26T20:30:13Z")
Talking about french names, I learned that the genus name _Lycoperdon_ of puffball mushrooms is literally translated into French ( **vesse-de-loup** ) and Spanish ( **pedo de lobo** ) - all three terms have the meaning ‘wolf’s fart’. (As a side note, that mushroom is edible but maybe many people in those countries are deterred by its name 🙃) ---
**Author:** ![jurga\_li](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jurga_li/32/4465_2.png) [@jurga\_li](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jurga_li)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/24 "2020-03-26T20:38:24Z")
Oh, that reminded me - Bovista in Lithuanian is **vilktabokė** : wolf’s tobacco. And generally all kinds of puffballs are often called kukurbezdalis - also a word derived from farting. ---
**Author:** ![dep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/278dde/32.png) [@dep](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/dep)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/25 "2020-03-26T20:42:51Z")
lol, that is awesome!!! I have no idea what the connection to wolves are, but people are apparently obsessed with wolves. I did a quick search, and Tom Volk (a mycologist) says the following [here](https://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/nov2001.html): > The pinkish spheres to the back are _Lycogala_ , the wolf’s milk slime mold, likely so named for its resemblance to the mammary glands of wolves (where do mycologists come up with this stuff?). The green plant to the left is _Lycopodium_ , wolf’s foot, a primitive seedless vascular plant sometimes known as club moss, even though it’s not a moss at all. The tomato is _Lycopersicon lycopersicum_ , the “wolf’s peach.” ---
**Author:** ![carnifex](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/carnifex/32/62_2.png) [@carnifex](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/carnifex)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/26 "2020-03-26T21:04:25Z")
Well, then we have the Wolf’s bane for _Aconitum_, and in German, the members of the Genus _Euphorbia_ (spurges) are generally named Wolf’s milk (because of the poisonous milky sap) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/27 "2020-05-25T21:04:29Z")
Closed on May 25, 2020, 9:04pm UTC This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed. ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/28 "2020-07-13T20:42:14Z")
Opened on July 13, 2020, 8:42pm UTC ---
**Author:** ![jonnpoulsen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jonnpoulsen/32/10754_2.png) [@jonnpoulsen](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jonnpoulsen)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 7:28am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/29 "2020-07-10T07:28:23Z")
Inspired by the thread [Funny, long, or just plain weird animal names](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/funny-long-or-just-plain-weird-animal-names/3220), which contains mostly English names, I thought I’d create this thread for sharing memorably weird names from other languages as well (with translations of course, so every one can enjoy). I’ll start with some of my Danish favourites: - kæmpefluen Harald (“the giant fly Harald”; named after a chubby professor) - [_Tachina grossa_](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/423928-Tachina-grossa) - mellemfluen Oskar (“the medium fly Oskar”; inspired by the above name) - [_Tachina fera_](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52591-Tachina-fera) - den vandrette sæk (“the horizontal sack”) - the moth [_Bacotia claustrella_](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/522521-Bacotia-claustrella) - rød ninja (“red ninja”) - the spider [_Zelotes electus_](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/783554-Zelotes-electus) - dræbersnegl (“killer slug”; nothing particularly murderous about it, but many garden owners really hate them) [_Arion vulgaris_](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/54583-Arion-vulgaris) Also, turtles are called skildpadder (“shield amphibians”) which has the unfortunate consequence that many Danes assume turtles to be amphibians. Looking forward to reading yours! ---
**Author:** ![alexis\_orion](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/alexis_orion/32/30298_2.png) [@alexis\_orion](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/alexis_orion)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 8:00am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/30 "2020-07-10T08:00:48Z")
Two of my favourite German ones are: - Schnurrbart-faulvogel (“Moustached lazybird”) - _[Malacoptila mystacalis](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1525-Malacoptila-mystacalis)_ - Palmendieb (“Palm thief”) - the [Coconut crab](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/51727-Birgus-latro) ---
**Author:** ![jonnpoulsen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jonnpoulsen/32/10754_2.png) [@jonnpoulsen](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jonnpoulsen)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 8:04am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/31 "2020-07-10T08:04:21Z")
Cool! We also call the coconut crab palm thief (“palmetyv” in Danish). ---
**Author:** ![rowan\_m](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/rowan_m/32/8280_2.png) [@rowan\_m](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/rowan_m)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/32 "2020-07-10T13:00:53Z")
I just today discovered the existence of Minute Pirate Bugs. [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/174592-Anthocoridae](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/174592-Anthocoridae) ---
**Author:** ![benkendrick](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/benkendrick/32/7856_2.png) [@benkendrick](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/benkendrick)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/33 "2020-07-10T15:48:26Z")
I’ve always felt Little Nipple Cactuses had an unusual name. ---
**Author:** ![PdFuenteB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/pdfuenteb/32/5015_2.png) [@PdFuenteB](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/PdFuenteB)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/34 "2020-07-12T01:00:03Z")
The flies from the subfamily [Phlebotominae](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/465113-Phlebotominae) (in english are called Sandflies; they are biting flies that transmit diseases like Leishmaniasis) are called “beatas” or “beatillas” in spanish, meaning something like “female saint” or “holy” in english. Very weird and/or ironic. ---
**Author:** ![ebarr](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/ebarr/32/10040_2.png) [@ebarr](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/ebarr)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/35 "2020-07-13T20:40:42Z")
One of my favourites is the name for a Striped Skunk in Quebec French, “bête puante” which translates to stinky beast. Moufette is the usual name in Quebec French. The other kind of local names I think are brilliant are the ones that are based on the sound an animal makes like: “Ouaouaron” (= Bullfrog) which, if you pronounce the name in Quebec French is the sound that the bullfrog makes. According to the Wiki this came from the Wendat language into Quebec French. ---
**Author:** ![intyrely\_eco](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/intyrely_eco/32/10892_2.png) [@intyrely\_eco](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/intyrely_eco)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 2:54am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/36 "2020-07-14T02:54:45Z")
I am very happy to come across this revived topic! My favourite for te reo Mа̄ori has to be [tokoeka](https://inaturalist.nz/taxa/204465-Apteryx-australis) or ‘[weka](https://inaturalist.nz/taxa/436-Gallirallus-australis) with a walking stick’ [Hoiho](https://inaturalist.nz/taxa/3831-Megadyptes-antipodes) are aptly named ‘noisy/loud shouter’ [Ruru / morepork](https://inaturalist.nz/taxa/979817-Ninox-novaeseelandiae) is funny as well; both the names in te reo and English are representative of their call, and you can hear each if you have the name sitting in your head, despite being so different. ---
**Author:** ![swampass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/swampass/32/11470_2.png) [@swampass](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/swampass)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 4:50am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/37 "2020-08-03T04:50:52Z")
I think the touch-me-not has a pretty funny name. One time my friend was in the woods touching one, and he asked me what it was. So I told him. “A touch-me-NOT?!” He freaked out for a second, it made me laugh. [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47889-Impatiens](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47889-Impatiens) ---
**Author:** ![sedgequeen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/sedgequeen/32/1928_2.png) [@sedgequeen](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/sedgequeen)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/38 "2020-09-03T19:23:26Z")
Least Weaselsnout. It’s the English name for a plant. ---
**Author:** ![jasonhernandez74](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jasonhernandez74/32/33615_2.png) [@jasonhernandez74](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jasonhernandez74)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 3:05am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/40 "2020-10-18T03:05:47Z")
The bird genus _Leiothrix_, in Chinese is called 相思鳥, which translates (roughly) “birds that care for each other.” The only explanation I can think of is, when I was stationed in Hawaii, as soon as one appeared, scolding me, there would soon be ring of them surrounding me, presumably drawn in by the one. And the Taiwan barbet is called in Chinese 五色鳥, which means “five-color bird.” ---
**Author:** ![jasonhernandez74](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jasonhernandez74/32/33615_2.png) [@jasonhernandez74](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jasonhernandez74)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 3:23am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910/41 "2020-10-18T03:23:56Z")
The national bird of the Dominican Republic is the palmchat. In Spanish it is called _cigua palmera_ – palmera means “of palms,” of course, but cigua is a word from the indigenous Taino language that means sea snail. Why would a land bird have a name that means sea snail? Stranger still is that the same bird occurs in Haiti, where it is called l’esclave palmiste – the palm slave! And can anyone explain to me why the Jamaican term for hummingbird is doctorbird? [Previous page](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/great-funny-or-weird-species-names-in-other-languages/10910.md?page=3)