Gender agreement in zoological nomenclature
Specific names can either be changeable (Latin adjectives
with different declinations according to the gender of the genus, like albus,
alba, album) or unchangeable (nouns and adjectives that don't change,
like splendens, splendens, splendens).
We are only interested in recognizing changeable adjectives. Unchangeable adjectives
behave exactly like nouns and it is not even necessary to know what exactly
they are.
Changeable adjectives can only have seven endings, nouns can have all endings.
Endings of changeable adjectives (but caution, nouns can have the same
endings) can only be:
-a (38 %), -e (3.3 %), -um (3.3 %), -er (0.9 %), -ior (0.2 %), -is (13 %), -us (21 %)
All other endings indicate unchangeable names, either nouns or unchangeable
adjectives.
Our problem is that 80 % of the zoological names of species have exactly these
endings.
Numerals:
1 uni- |
11 undedim- |
21 vigintiunus- (not unusetviginti-) |
|
|
|
|
|
30 triginti-
32 trigintiduo- (not duoettriginti-)
40 quadraginti-
100 centem-
List of names
abacus unchangeable
abdominalis, -is, -e changeable
abietis unchangeable
accedula unchangeable
acer, acris, acre changeable
aceris unchangeable
actaceus, -a, -um changeable
acus unchangeable
acutus, -a, -um changeable
admetus unchangeable
adonis unchangeable
adversus, -a, -um changeable
aeneus, -a, -um changeable
aequalis, -is, -e changeable inaequalis,
etc.
aetolus unchangeable
afer, afra, afrum changeable
affinis, -is, -e changeable
agilis, -is, -e changeable
agrarius, -a, -um changeable
agrestis, -is, -e changeable
agricola unchangeable
alacer, alacris, alacre changeable
alatus, -a, -um changeable
albipes unchangeable
albus, -a, -um changeable
alexis unchangeable
alliarius, -a, -um changeable
alpestris, -is, -e changeable
alpicola unchangeable
alpinus, -a, -um changeable
alpium unchangeable
altaiensis unchangeable
alternatus, -a, -um changeable
altus, -a, -um changeable
amathusia unchangeable
americanus, -a, -um changeable
amiralis unchangeable
ammiralis unchangeable
ampulla unchangeable
ampullatus, -a, -um changeable
anfractus unchangeable trianfractus,
etc.
angularis, -is, -e changeable subangularis,
triangularis, etc.
angulatus, -a, -um changeable
angulosus, -a, -um changeable biangulosus,
etc.
annulatus, -a, -um changeable
anser unchangeable
anseris unchangeable
apoda unchangeable
appendiculatus, -a, -um changeable
aprilinus, -a, -um changeable
apterus, -a, -um changeable
aquaticus, -a, -um changeable
aquatilis, -is, -e changeable
arboreus, -a, -um changeable
arcticus, -a, -um changeable
arenarius, -a, -um changeable
argentatus, -a, -um changeable
argenteus, -a, -um changeable
argiolus unchangeable
argus unchangeable
argutus, -a, -um changeable
arietis unchangeable
armatus, -a, -um changeable
arvalis, -is, -e changeable
asiaticus, -a, -um changeable
asinus unchangeable
asper, -era, -erum changeable
aspersus, -a, -um changeable
asteris unchangeable
atalanta unchangeable
ater, atra, atrum changeable
atomarius, -a, -um changeable
atratus, -a, -um changeable
aulicus, -a, -um changeable
aurantius, -a, -um changeable
auratus, -a, -um changeable
aureolatus, -a, -um changeable
aureus, -a, -um changeable
auricomus, -a, -um changeable
aurinia unchangeable
auritus, -a, -um changeable inauritus,
etc.
aurora unchangeable
australis, -is, -e changeable
autumnalis, -is, -e changeable
avellanarius, -a, -um changeable
avenaceus, -a, -um changeable
baldus unchangeable
balthicus, -a, -um changeable
barbarus, -a, -um changeable
barbatus, -a, -um changeable
blandus, -a, -um changeable
bodoensis i dont know
borealis, -is, -e changeable
boreas unchangeable
boreus, -a, -um changeable
brachypterus, -a, -um changeable
brachyurus, -a, -um changeable
bracteatus, -a, -um changeable
brasiliensis, -is, -e changeable
brevis, -is, -e changeable
brunneus, -a, -um changeable
bucephalus, -a, -um changeable
bulla unchangeable
bullatus, -a, -um changeable
caballus unchangeable
caementarius, -a, -um changeable
caeruleus, -a, -um changeable
caesius, -a, -um changeable
caffer, caffra, caffrum changeable
calamitosus, -a, -um changeable
calcaratus, -a, -um changeable
calidris unchangeable
campestris, -is, -e changeable
cancellatus, -a, -um changeable
cancellus unchangeable
candidus, -a, -um changeable
cantans unchangeable
capensis, -is, -e changeable
capotea unchangeable
capreolus unchangeable
capybara unchangeable
cardinalis, -is, -e changeable
carinatus, -a, -um changeable
cariosus, -a, -um changeable
caspius, -a, -um changeable
catena unchangeable
caudacutus, -a, -um changeable
caudatus, -a, -um changeable
centaurus unchangeable
centralis, -is, -e changeable
ceronus i dont know
chloroticus, -a, -um changeable
chrysis i dont know
ciliaris, -is, -e changeable
cinctus, -a, -um changeable novemcinctus,
tricinctus, etc.
cinereus, -a, -um changeable
circinatus, -a, -um changeable
circinnatus, -a, -um changeable
citellus unchangeable
citreolus, -a, -um changeable
civetta unchangeable
clathratus, -a, -um changeable
clathrus unchangeable
clavatus, -a, -um changeable
clavus unchangeable
cleobis unchangeable
coeruleatus, -a, -um changeable
coeruleus, -a, -um changeable
collaris, -is, -e changeable
collis unchangeable albicollis, ruficollis,
etc
color unchangeable bicolor, tricolor,
unicolor, concolor, discolor, diversicolor, etc.
colorus, -a, -um changeable bicolorus,
tricolorus, ruficolorus, etc.
comatus, -a, -um changeable
comis, -is, -e changeable
comma unchangeable
communis, -is, -e changeable
complanatus, -a, -um changeable
complanus, -a, -um changeable
compressus, -a, -um changeable
conchilega unchangeable
confusus, -a, -um changeable
conicus, -a, -um changeable
connatus, -a, -um changeable
conoideus, -a, -um changeable
conulus unchangeable
cordatus, -a, -um changeable bicordatus,
etc.
cordiger unchangeable
cornis, -is, -e changeable bicornis,
etc.
cornutus, -a, -um changeable
corollaris, -is, -e changeable
coronalis, -is, -e changeable
coronatus, -a, -um changeable
corticatus, -a, -um changeable
costa unchangeable filicosta, gracilicosta,
milicosta, magnicosta, etc.
costatus, -a, -um changeable
crassus, -a, -um changeable
crenatus, -a, -um changeable
cribrarius, -a, -um changeable
cristatus, -a, -um changeable
cruciatus unchangeable
crucifer unchangeable
cruentus, -a, -um changeable
curvatus, -a, -um changeable
cuspidatus, -a, -um changeable tricuspidatus,
etc.
cyanus, -a, -um changeable
cyathina unchangeable
cylindraceus, -a, -um changeable
cylindricus, -a, -um changeable
cyllarus unchangeable
cynthia unchangeable
cytheris unchangeable
dactylus, -a, -um changeable
dardanus, -a, -um changeable
dauricus, -a, -um changeable
dauuricus, -a, -um changeable
decumana unchangeable
decumanus unchangeable
dentalis unchangeable
dentatus, -a, -um changeable bidentatus,
tridentatus, unidentatus, etc.
depressior unchangeable
depressus, -a, -um changeable
diadema unchangeable
diadematus, -a, -um changeable
differens unchangeable
difficilis, -is, -e changeable
digitatus, -a, -um changeable deciesdigitatus,
octiesdigitatus, etc.
dilatatus, -a, -um changeable
distinctus, -a, -um changeable
distortus, -a, -um changeable
docilis, -is, -e changeable
domesticus, -a, -um changeable
dominulus, -a, -um changeable
dorsalis, -is, -e changeable
dorus unchangeable
dorylas unchangeable
dubius, -a, -um changeable
dypterigius, -a, -um changeable
eburneus, -a, -um changeable
echinatus, -a, -um changeable
edentulus, -a, -um changeable
edulis, -is, -e changeable
elegans unchangeable
empetra unchangeable
epeus unchangeable
equestris, -is, -e changeable
equinus, -a, -um changeable
ervum unchangeable
erythraeus, -a, -um changeable
erythrinus, -a, -um changeable
esculentus, -a, -um changeable
eudora unchangeable
excavatus, -a, -um changeable
exilis, -is, -e changeable
exsoletus, -a, -um changeable
exustus, -a, -um changeable
faba unchangeable
falcatus, -a, -um changeable
fasciatus, -a, -um changeable trifasciatus,
quaterfasciatus, sexiesfasciatus, unifasciatus, etc.
fascicularis, -is, -e changeable
fasciolatus, -a, -um changeable
fauna unchangeable
fenestralis, -is, -e changeable
fenestratus, -a, -um changeable
ferrugineus, -a, -um changeable
ferus, -a, -um changeable
festivus, -a, -um changeable
fidus, -a, -um changeable bifidus,
quadrifidus, trifidus, etc.
figuraevetustae unchangeable
fimbriatus, -a, -um changeable
fissura unchangeable
flammeus, -a, -um changeable
flavatus, -a, -um changeable
flaveolus, -a, -um changeable
flavus, -a, -um changeable
floralis, -is, -e changeable
florus, -a, -um changeable
fluviatilis, -is, -e changeable
foina unchangeable
foliatus, -a, -um changeable
fontinalis, -is, -e changeable
formis, -is, -e changeable araneiformis,
filiformis, pyriformis, reniformis, scutiformis, tubiformis, vespiformis, etc.
formosus, -a, -um changeable
fossa unchangeable
fossilis, -is, -e changeable
fragilis, -is, -e changeable
fragrans unchangeable
frondosus, -a, -um changeable
frons unchangeable
frustulosa i dont know
fucatus, -a, -um changeable
fuliginosus, -a, -um changeable
furcifer unchangeable
furciferus, -a, -um changeable
furunculus unchangeable
fuscatus, -a, -um changeable
fuscus, -a, -um changeable
fusus unchangeable
galbula unchangeable
galerus, -a, -um changeable
gallina unchangeable
gasteropelecus unchangeable
gemmatus, -a, -um changeable
gibberulus, -a, -um changeable
gibbosus, -a, -um changeable
giganteus, -a, -um changeable
glaber, -a, -um changeable
glacialis, -is, -e changeable
glis unchangeable
globosus, -a, -um changeable semiglobosus,
subglobosus, etc.
globularis, -is, -e changeable
glomeratus, -a, -um changeable
glycimeris unchangeable
glyphicus, -a, -um changeable
gordius unchangeable
gracilis, -is, -e changeable
grandifer, -fera, -ferum changeable
grandior, -ior, -ius changeable
grandis, -is, -e changeable
granulatus, -a, -um changeable
gratilla unchangeable
gravis, -is, -e changeable
gregalis, -is, -e changeable
gregarius, -a, -um changeable
griseus, -a, -um changeable
grossus, -a, -um changeable
guttatus, -a, -um changeable biguttatus,
triguttatus, etc.
gutturosus, -a, -um changeable
hastatus, -a, -um changeable
hecticus, -a, -um changeable
helicinus, -a, -um changeable
helvolus, -a, -um changeable
hemionus unchangeable
hemisphaericus, -a, -um changeable
hermaphrodita unchangeable
hermaphroditus unchangeable
heteroclita unchangeable
hippelaphus unchangeable
hircus unchangeable
hispidus, -a, -um changeable
hortensis, -is, -e changeable
horticola unchangeable
hudsonius, -a, -um changeable
humeralis, -is, -e changeable
humilis, -is, -e changeable
hydatidis unchangeable
hydrochaeris unchangeable
hydrus unchangeable
hyematus, -a, -um changeable
hyrcanus unchangeable
ianira unchangeable
ianthe unchangeable
iberis unchangeable
icarus unchangeable
ignobilis, -is, -e changeable
imperalis, -is, -e changeable
imperialis, -is, -e changeable
inauratus, -is, -e changeable
incertus, -is, -e changeable
indicus, -a, -um changeable
infundibulum unchangeable
innotatus, -a, -um changeable
inquilinus unchangeable
insularis, -is, -e changeable
intestinalis, -is, -e changeable
jubatus, -a, -um changeable
labris unchangeable
lacteolus changeable
lacustris, -is, -e changeable
laevis, -is, -e changeable
laganum unchangeable
lagopus unchangeable
lagurus, -a, -um changeable
lamda unchangeable
lamia unchangeable
lanatus, -a, -um changeable
lanceolatus, -a, -um changeable
lateralis, -is, -e changeable
lateritius, -a, -um changeable
lathyrus unchangeable
latus, -a, -um changeable
lemma unchangeable
lemmus unchangeable
lenticularis, -is, -e changeable
lentus, -a, -um changeable
leodorus i dont know
leopardus unchangeable
leporinus, -a, -um changeable
leucocephalus, -a, -um changeable
leucomelus, -a, -um changeable
limacina unchangeable
limbatus, -a, -um changeable albolimbatus,
etc.
linearis, -is, -e changeable
lineatus, -a, -um changeable trilineatus,
etc.
littoralis, -is, -e changeable
littoreus, -a, -um changeable
lividus, -a, -um changeable
lixula unchangeable
lobatus, -a, -um changeable
lobus, -a, -um changeable bilobus,
quadrilobus, rufilobus, trilobus, etc.
longissimus, -a, -um changeable
lucidus, -a, -um changeable
luciola unchangeable
lugubris, -is, -e changeable
lunaris, -is, -e changeable
lunatus, -a, -um changeable
lunula unchangeable
lunulatus, -a, -um changeable
luperus unchangeable
lupus unchangeable
luridus, -a, -um changeable
luteus, -a, -um changeable
macer, macris, macre changeable
macrourus, -a, -um changeable
maculatus, -a, -um changeable bimaculatus,
trimaculatus, etc.
magnus, -a, -um changeable
maior, maius changeable
malaccensis, -is, -e changeable
mammillaris, -is, -e changeable
maraena unchangeable
maraenula unchangeable
marginalis, -is, -e changeable
marginatus, -a, -um changeable
marinus, -a, -um changeable
maritimus, -a, -um changeable
marmoratus, -a, -um changeable
massa unchangeable
maturus, -a, -um changeable
maurus, -a, -um changeable
mediterraneus, -a, -um changeable
medusa unchangeable
megaera unchangeable
melampus unchangeable
melanogaster unchangeable
meleager unchangeable
membranaceus, -a, -um changeable
mentula unchangeable
mentulatus, -a, -um changeable
meridionalis, -is, -e changeable
meticulosus, -a, -um changeable
mexicanus, -a, -um changeable
microphthalmus, -a, -um changeable
migratorius, -a, -um changeable
miliaris, -is, -e changeable
miniatus, -a, -um changeable
minimus, -a, -um changeable
minor, minus changeable
minutus, -a, -um changeable
mirabilis, -is, -e changeable
moeris unchangeable
mola unchangeable
mollis, -is, -e changeable
mona unchangeable
monacha unchangeable
monachus unchangeable
mongolicus, -a, -um changeable
monotis unchangeable
monticola unchangeable
morella unchangeable
morpheus unchangeable
mucidus, -a, -um changeable
mundus, -a, -um changeable
muraena unchangeable
muralis, -is, -e changeable
muricatus, -a, -um changeable bimuricatus,
etc.
murinus, -a, -um changeable
mursa unchangeable
mutus, -a, -um changeable
mystaceus, -a, -um changeable
nanus, -a, -um changeable
nasus unchangeable
nasutus, -a, -um changeable
navalis, -is, -e changeable
navicula unchangeable
nebulosus, -a, -um changeable
nemoralis, -is, -e changeable
niger, -nigra, - nigrum changeable
nimbosus, -a, -um changeable
nitidus, -a, -um changeable
nivalis, -is, -e changeable
niveus, -a, -um changeable
nobilis, -is, -e changeable
novus, -is, -e changeable
nucleus unchangeable
nyroca unchangeable
obscurus, -a, -um changeable
obsoletus, -a, -um changeable
occidentalis, -is, -e changeable
oceanicus, -a, -um changeable
ocellaris unchangeable
ocellatus, -a, -um changeable
octodentatus, -a, -um changeable
octoguttatus, -a, -um changeable
oeconomicus unchangeable
oeconomus unchangeable
officinalis, -is, -e changeable
ogotona unchangeable
opercularis, -is, -e changeable
orbicularis, -is, -e changeable
orbiculatus, -a, -um changeable
orientalis, -is, -e changeable
ornatus, -a, -um changeable
ovalis, -is, -e changeable
ovatus, -a, -um changeable
oxycephalus, -a, -um changeable
paleaceus, -a, -um changeable
pallidatus, -a, -um changeable
pallidulus, -a, -um changeable
pallidus, -a, -um changeable
paludosus, -a, -um changeable
palustris, -is, -e changeable
pamphilius, -a, -um changeable
pamphilus, -a, -um unchangeable
paniscus unchangeable
papaveris unchangeable
papillosus, -a, -um changeable
paradoxus, -a, -um changeable
partitus, -a, -um changeable bipartitus,
tripartitus, etc.
parvulus, -a, -um changeable
parvus, -a, -um changeable
passerinus, -a, -um changeable
passeris unchangeable
patellaris, -is, -e changeable
patulus, -a, -um changeable
pavidus, -a, -um changeable
pedicularius, -a, -um changeable
pediculus unchangeable
pelagicus, -a, -um changeable
pelecus unchangeable
pellucidus, -a, -um changeable
penicillus unchangeable
peregrinus, -a, -um changeable
peregusna unchangeable
perforatus, -a, -um changeable bisperforatus,
quaterperforatus, sexiesperforatus, etc.
perla unchangeable
perlatus, -a, -um changeable
persicus, -a, -um changeable
perversus, -a, -um changeable
philanthus unchangeable
philoxenus unchangeable
phthalmus, -a, -um changeable
pictus, -a, -um changeable
pileus unchangeable
pilosellus, -a, -um changeable
pilosus, -a, -um changeable
pilula unchangeable
pirinus, -a, -um changeable
planatus, -a, -um changeable
planicornis, -is, -e changeable
planorbis unchangeable
planus, -a, -um changeable
plestya unchangeable
plumipes unchangeable
plumosus, -a, -um changeable
pluvialis, -is, -e changeable
pocillum unchangeable
podalirius, -a, -um changeable
politus, -a, -um changeable
polyphemus unchangeable
porca unchangeable
porcatus, -a, -um changeable
porcellus unchangeable
porcus unchangeable
prasinarius, -a, -um changeable
prasinus, -a, -um changeable
pratensis, -is, -e changeable
principalis, -is, -e changeable
procer, procris, procre changeable
proserpina unchangeable
puber unchangeable
pubera unchangeable
pulchellus, -a, -um changeable
pulcher, -ra, -rum changeable
pulverulentus, -a, -um changeable
pumilionis unchangeable
punctatus, -a, -um changeable tripunctatus,
unipunctatus, etc.
purpureus, -a, -um changeable
pusillus, -a, -um changeable
pustulatus, -a, -um changeable
pustulosus, -a, -um changeable
putrinus, -a, -um changeable
pygargus, -a, -um changeable
pygmeus, -a, -um changeable
querulus, -a, -um changeable
radiatus, -a, -um changeable biradiatus,
multiradiatus, quaterradiatus, striatoradiatus, etc.
reduncus, -a, -um changeable
regalis, -is, -e changeable
regius, -a, -um changeable
regularis, -is, -e changeable
regulus unchangeable
reticulatus, -a, -um changeable
reticulum unchangeable
ridibundus, -a, -um changeable
riparius, -a, -um changeable
rivularis, -is, -e changeable
rosaceus, -a, -um changeable
roseus, -a, -um changeable
rostratus, -a, -um changeable
rostris unchangeable
rotundus, -a, -um changeable subrotundus,
etc.
ruber, rubra, rubrum changeable
rubricollis unchangeable
rudis, -is, -e changeable
ruficollis unchangeable
rufinus, -a, -um changeable
rugosus, -a, -um changeable
rupestris, -is, -e changeable
rupium unchangeable
rusticus, -a, -um changeable
rutilus, -a, -um changeable
sabulosus, -a, -um changeable
saetosus, -a, -um changeable
sagitta unchangeable
saida unchangeable
salicis unchangeable
sanguinarius, -a, -um changeable
sanguineus, -a, -um changeable
sardicus, -a, -um changeable
saturninus, -a, -um changeable
satyra unchangeable
satyrus unchangeable
saxatilis, -is, -e changeable
scalaris, -is, -e changeable
scutatus, -a, -um changeable
scytha unchangeable
secale unchangeable
secalis unchangeable
segetis, -is, -e changeable
segetum unchangeable
sellatus, -a, -um changeable
senilis, -is, -e changeable
sericeus, -a, -um changeable
serratus, -a, -um changeable
setosus, -a, -um changeable
sibilla unchangeable
sibiricus, -a, -um changeable
signatus, -a, -um changeable
silena unchangeable
silenus unchangeable
sileris unchangeable
silvaticus, -a, -um changeable
similis, -is, -e changeable
singularis, -is, -e changeable
sinicus, -a, -um changeable
sinuatus, -a, -um changeable
sitibundus, -a, -um changeable
socialis, -is, -e changeable
socius, -a, -um changeable
solidus, -a, -um changeable
solstitialis, -is, -e changeable
sororcula unchangeable
speciosus, -a, -um changeable
spectrum unchangeable
spinosulus, -a, -um changeable
spinosus, -a, -um changeable bispinosus,
multispinosus, quadrispinosus, subspinosus, trispinosus, etc.
spiralis unchangeable
stabilis, -is, -e changeable
stagnalis, -is, -e changeable
stellaris, -is, -e changeable
stellatus, -a, -um changeable
stellifer, stellifera, stelliferum changeable
striatulus, -a, -um changeable
striatus, -a, -um changeable
strigatus, -a, -um changeable
strigula unchangeable
stupidus, -a, -um changeable
stylatus, -a, -um changeable tetrastylatus,
etc.
suberosus, -a, -um changeable
subterraneus, -a, -um changeable
subtilis, -is, -e changeable
subucula unchangeable
subuculus unchangeable
suillus, -a, -um changeable
sulcatus, -a, -um changeable
suslica unchangeable
sutorius, -a, -um changeable
suturalis, -is, -e changeable
sylvaticus, -a, -um changeable
sylvestris, -is, -e changeable
sylvicola unchangeable
tabidus, -a, -um changeable
talpinus, -a, -um changeable
tarpeius, -a, -um changeable
tataricus, -a, -um changeable
taurus unchangeable
taxus unchangeable
telegonus unchangeable
tenebrosus, -a, -um changeable
tenuis, -is, -e changeable
tepidus, -a, -um changeable
terrestris, -is, -e changeable
tessella unchangeable
tessellatus, -a, -um changeable
testaceus, -a, -um changeable
tettigonus unchangeable
thalassinus, -a, -um changeable
thetis unchangeable
thoracicus, -a, -um changeable
thymifolia unchangeable
tibialis, -is, -e changeable
tigrinus, -a, -um changeable
tomentosus, -a, -um changeable subtomendosus,
etc.
toreumaticus, -a, -um changeable
torquatus, -a, -um changeable
torris unchangeable
transfuga unchangeable
transversalis, -is, -e changeable
transversus, -a, -um changeable
tremulus, -a, -um changeable
tribulum unchangeable
tribulus unchangeable
tridens unchangeable
trigrammus, -a, -um changeable
trilaterus, -a, -um changeable
triquetrus, -a, -um changeable
tristis, -is, -e changeable
trivius, -a, -um changeable
truncatus, -a, -um changeable
tuberculatus, -a, -um changeable bituberculatus,
quadrituberculatus, octotuberculatus, etc.
tuberum unchangeable
tubicola unchangeable
tulipa unchangeable
turcicus, -a, -um changeable
tyndarus unchangeable
typhlus unchangeable
umbilicalis, -is, -e changeable
umbilicus unchangeable
umbra unchangeable
umbratus, -a, -um changeable
uncia unchangeable
undatus, -a, -um changeable
undulatus, -a, -um changeable
ungulatus, -a, -um changeable
ursus unchangeable
vacuus, -a, -um changeable
vagabundus, -a, -um changeable
vagus, -a, -um changeable
valgus, -a, -um changeable
variabilis, -is, -e changeable
variegatus, -a, -um changeable
variolaris unchangeable
variolosus, -a, -um changeable
varius, -a, -um changeable
velifer, velifera, veliferum changeable
velitaris, -is, -e changeable
velleda unchangeable
velutinus, -a, -um changeable
venosus, -a, -um changeable
ventralis, -is, -e changeable
ventricosus, -a, -um changeable
ventris unchangeable
vermicularis, -is, -e changeable
vermiculatus, -a, -um changeable
vernalis, -is, -e changeable
vernus, verna, vernum i dont know (alle haben unterschiedliche
Bedeutungen)
versicolorius, -a, -um changeable
versipellis, -is, -e changeable
verticalis, -is, -e changeable
vespertinus, -a, -um changeable
vestitus, -a, -um changeable
vetulus, -a, -um changeable
vicia unchangeable
viduatus, -a, -um changeable
villica, -co, -cus changeable
villosus, -a, -um changeable
viminalis unchangeable
violaceus, -a, -um changeable
virgatus, -a, -um changeable
virginianus, -a, -um changeable
virgula unchangeable
viridis, -is, -e changeable
viridulatus, -a, -um changeable
viridulus, -a, -um changeable
vitis unchangeable
vitreus, -a, -um changeable
vittatus, -a, -um changeable bivittatus,
trivittatus, albovittatus, etc.
vivparus, -a, -um changeable
volva unchangeable
vulgaris, -is, -e changeable
vulpecula unchangeable
zebra unchangeable
zelima unchangeable
zenobia unchangeable
zerta unchangeable
zizyphinus unchangeable
zonarius, -a, -um changeable
How to recognize a Latin adjective
It is not easy to distinguish a Latin adjective from a Latin noun. To see
if a name is an adjective or not, it is necessary to consult a Latin standard
dictionary. And make sure that your dictionary is not too small. It is practically
not possible to feed a computer program to distinguish nouns and adjectives.
Some words can be both, only the context in the original source decides.
You can also consult Sherborn's
Index Animalium, to see if changed versions of the same name exist. But
Sherborn made many mistakes, or copied incorrectly formed names from original
sources, and is not reliable. The same applies to AnimalBase or other sources
- many zoologists established incorrect names, which must stand.
Examples:
faber is usually a noun, glaber is an adjective. If a zoologist
established a name fabra, this must stand, faber can also be an
adjective.
fiber is a noun, liber is an adjective.
zebra is a noun, glabra is an adjective.
frater is a noun, ater is an adjective.
Nouns with adjectival endings become adjectives: -ana, -aria, -ata,
-ella, -iensis, -ina, -osa.
Examples:
fiberata, fibulata, brasiliensis, migratoria, riedeliana, victorina,
victoriana, victoriensis.
Names ending in -icola are usually nouns.
Sometimes it is very difficult to decide whether a name is an adjective or
not. Geographical names are not contained in dictionaries, for these there is
no help at all. In living languages you ask a native speaker to solve such problems.
Examples:
Latin nouns are not changed to agree in gender with that of the genus. A
substantival specific name describing a female animal is not changed to its
male component if combined with a masculine genus.
Examples:
How to change the Latin adjective
Some Latin words can be adjectives and nouns at the same time. If the author
did not treat such a name as an adjective, it must be treated as a noun (Art.
31.2.2).
This concerns words ending in -ifer/-ifera/-iferum and -iger/-igera/-igerum.
For this determination it is necessary to know Latin quite well. I do
not know a case where the original name was treated as an adjective. A name
nanum is certainly an adjective, but nana or nanus could
also be nouns. The same applies to pergrinus, peregrina, peregrinum.
monacha and monachus seem to be "pure" nouns, but this
might depend from the size of your dictionary.
The resulting problem is that in many cases Art. 31.2.2 is not followed because
most authors are not sufficiently skilled in Latin.
Examples:
In zoological Latin the three genders feminine (58 %), masculine (38 %) and neuter (4 %) are not evenly distributed in the language, neuter is very rare. When Latin was spread to other parts of Italy, to S France, Catalonia, central Spain, Portugal, Galicia, N France and Romania, the neuter gender was lost, probably because people forgot how to apply the correct declinations, and merged usually with masculine. In scientific zoology we have the same trend, not many taxonomists know the correct declinations for the neuter gender.
Declination of adjectives in the nominative singular
It is necessary to consult a standard Latin dictionary to know the form of
declination of an adjective ending in -er. There are currently no good
online Latin dictionaries where the solution could be found reliably. It is
not possible to get this information automatically, to feed a computer program
with such information.
Here I give some relatively frequent examples of adjectival names, only in the
nominative singular. If a name was established in another case, it is necessary
to consult a complete Latin grammar collection to learn which form of which
of the 5 cases singular or plural could apply for the adjective.
Example:
The name pavidam, established in the accusative singular in the genus
Musca (Diptera), must be pavida in the nominative singular.
The sorting in such lists is always masculine - feminine - neuter.
-us, -a, -um. Adjectives ending in -us. Some 60 % of all
zoological names are adjectives in this form.
Examples:
albus, alba, album
signatus, signata, signatum
migratorius, migratoria, migratorium
pavidus, pavida, pavidum
gibberulus, gibberula, gibberulum
bicolorus, bicolora, bicolorus (but not: bicolor)
-er, -ra, -rum. Adjectives ending in -er with e not contained
in the word
stem. 0.5-1 % of the zoological names.
Examples:
niger, nigra, nigrum
ater, atra, atrum
pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum
More: afer, cafer, caffer, dexter, glaber, ruber, scaber, teucer
-er, -era, -erum. Adjectives ending in -er with e contained
in the word
stem. Only few names.
Examples:
asper, aspera, asperum
gibber, gibbera, gibberum
tener, tenera, tenerum
liber, libera, liberum
spinifer, spinifera, spiniferum
cordiger, cordigera, cordigerum
More with ending -ifer (but caution: usually these are nouns!):
anatifer, anguillifer, atomifer, bulbifer, conifer,
costulifer, crucifer, dentifer, discifer, ensifer, furcifer, glandifer,
globulifer, grandifer, granifer, lamellifer, lancifer, ovifer, prolifer, punctifer,
setifer, signifer, speculifer, spinifer, stellifer, tubifer, velifer
Not: lucifer
More with ending -iger (but caution: usually these are nouns!):
annulliger, armiger, claviger, corniger, disciger,
flammiger, furciger, guttiger, palliger, plumiger, punctiger, scutiger,
serriger, setiger, urniger, vittiger
-er, -ris, -re. Adjectives ending in -er with e not contained
in the word
stem and 3 endings. Only very few names.
Examples:
acer, acris, acre
More: alacer, macer, procer, trinacer
-er, -eris, -ere. Adjectives ending in -er with e contained
in the word
stem and 3 endings. Perhaps only one name in zoology.
Examples:
celer, celeris, celere
Not: aceris, anseris, asteris, cytheris, glycimeris, hydrochaeris, iberis,
moeris, papaveris, passeris, sileris, veris
-is, -is, -e. Adjectives ending in -is with 2 endings. Some
10 % of all zoological names are adjectives in this form.
This is one of the major error sources because zoologists usually do not know
that these words must be changed when combined with genera of neuter gender.
It is also very difficult to see if such a name is a noun or an adjective.
Examples:
campestris, campestris, campestre
brasiliensis, brasiliensis, brasiliense
capensis, capensis, capense
apiformis, apiformis, apiforme
mollis, mollis, molle
laevis, laevis, laeve
rudis, rudis, rude
tenuis, tenuis, tenue
More: abdominalis, acicularis, aequinoctialis, affinis, agilis, agrestis,
alpestris, angularis, annularis, aquatilis, australis, autumnalis,
borealis, brevis, campestris, centralis, ciliaris, claustralis, collaris,
communis, difficilis, dorsalis, edulis, -ensis, equestris, exilis,
fascicularis, fenestralis, fluviatilis, fontinalis, -formis, fossilis,
fragilis, glacialis, gracilis, grandis, gravis, haemorrhoidalis,
hortensis, humeralis, imperialis, insularis, lacustris, laevis, lateralis,
lenticularis, linearis, littoralis, lunaris, mammillaris, marginalis,
meridionalis, militaris, mirabilis, mollis, muralis, navalis, nemoralis,
nivalis, nobilis, occidentalis, officinalis, opercularis, orbicularis,
orientalis, ovalis, palustris, pluvialis, pratensis, regularis, rivularis,
rudis, rupestris, saxatilis, scalaris, senilis, septentrionalis, similis,
stabilis, stagnalis, stellaris, sylvestris, tenuis, terrestris,
transversalis, tristis, variabilis, ventralis, vermicularis, vernalis,
viridis, vulgaris
Not: abietis, adonis, alexis, -cornis, -collis, calidris, cardinalis,
dentalis, fascialis, -labris, ocellaris, -rostris, salicis, -spiralis, -ventris
Still unclear to me:
meleager, meleagris, meleagris
secale, secalis
-x and -ns. Adjectives with only
one ending. These are not changed and behave like nouns. 3 % of the
zoological names have these endings.
Examples (could also be nouns, does not matter, it is not necessary to
know that):
atrox, biplex, carnifex, dendex, fallax, felix, praecox, senex, velox
abundans, albescens, ascendens, caerulans, caeulescens, canescens,
distans, elegans, flavescens, fulvescens, nigricans, nitens, pallens,
pubescens, ringens, rufescens, sapiens, virens, volans
-ior, -ior, -ius. Adjectives in the comparative form, with
two endings. Only 0.3 % of the zoological names. The most important are
maior and minor, only few know that in neuter gender they must turn to maius
and minus.
Examples:
major, major, majus
maior, maior, maius
minor, minor, minus
minutior, minutior, minutius
depressior, depressior, depressius
grandior, grandior, grandius
angustior, angustior, angustius
More: arctior, convexior, crassior, distinctior, elatior, gracilior,
junior, laevior, latior, obscurior, pallidior, scabrior, solidior, tenuior
Incorrect gender application in the original description
Incorrect application of gender in the original description (adjectival name
of species did not agree in gender with the genus) should be maintained for
citing the original combination. But it is corrected if a name is actually used
for a taxon in a current classification, regardless if in the same or in another
genus.
Examples:
Some authors forced the specific names to agree in gender with the subgenus
and not with the genus. This is no problem. Today the species must agree in
gender with the genus. The subgenus can have a different gender.
Examples: