Great, funny, or weird species names in other languages

For direct translations from Korean into English …

‘Shaman’ is used in several Korean animal names as well as for (all the?) Russula mushrooms. Some examples are:

  1. Russula amoena | 가지무당버섯: Eggplant Shaman Mushroom
  2. Russula cyanoxantha | 청머루무당버섯: Wild Green Grape Shaman Mushroom
  3. Russala pectinata | 달팽이무당버섯: Snail Shaman Mushroom

  1. Bombina orientalis | 무당개구리: Shaman Frog
  2. Emberiza sulphurate | 무당새: Shaman Bird
  3. Megacopta punctatissima | 무당알노린재: Shaman Egg Bug
  4. Trichonephila clavata | 무당거미: Shaman Spider
  5. Aiolocaria hexaspilota | 남생이무당벌레: Freshwater Tortoise Shaman Beetle

Actually, all the ladybird beetles are some variation of ‘Shaman Beetle’ but most have names similar to their English equivalent like ‘Seven Spot Shaman Beetle’.

A few other interesting Korean wildlife names:

Eschrichtius robustus | 귀신고래: Ghost Whale
Balaenoptera musculus | 대왕고래: Great King Whale
Balaenoptera physalus | 긴수염고래: Long-whiskered Whale
Dolphin | 돌고래: Rock Whale
Phocoenoides dalli | 까치돌고래: Magpie Rock Whale

Fish | 물고기: Water Meat
Pungtungia herzi | 돌고기: Rock Meat
Sturgeon | 철갑상어: Armor Shark

Lemnoideae / Duckweeds | 개러리밥: Frog Rice
Jeffersonia dubia | 깽깽이풀: Hopping Grass
Pulsatilla koreana | 할미꽃: Grandmother Flower

Zebra | 얼룩말: Spotted Horse
Seal | 물개: Water Dog
Hare | 산토끼: Mountain Rabbit
Ochotona hyperborea | 우는토끼: Crying Rabbit/Weeping Rabbit

Swan | 백조: White Bird
Stork | 황새: Yellow Bird

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