The Naming of Things
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The Naming of Things: The Disorder of the Order of Whale Names
Kings Play Chess On Fine Glass Squares. King Phillip Came Over For Great Sex. Kangaroos Punch Children On Family Game Shows… Do any of these ring a bell? Are you very confused? Regardless – you’re about to be even more so. The three ridiculous sentences I started this month’s blog with are examples of mnemonic…
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The Naming of Things: Beluga Whale
2020 has taught us many things including the importance of appreciating the simple things in life, like a glass of good-enough wine, a strong and stable internet collection, and an uncomplicated naming story. To that end – the origin of the Beluga Whale’s name is, thankfully, short and sweet. If you know nothing else about…
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The Naming of Things: Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale
On the surface (under the surface?) the Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale’s name seems very self-explanatory but that’s only if you know what a ginkgo is. Thankfully, we planted one in our front yard when we moved in and now it’s taller than our house, so I’ve had time to learn a little something about them. Bear…
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The Naming of Things: Common Dolphin
When you’re a young kid in the prairies exploring your newfound love of dolphins the Common Dolphin’s name will give you a bit of pause. Their name appears very straightforward, they are clearly a commonly seen dolphin, yet they don’t look much like the “common” dolphin pictures and dollar store figures strewn around your room…what…
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The Naming of Things: Amazon River Dolphin
River Dolphins are definitely some of the coolest looking dolphins around and the Amazon River Dolphin is no exception. Its distinctly long and pointed rostrum as well as its oftentimes bright pink colour certainly set it apart. Unfortunately, its name… not so much. The Amazon River Dolphin’s common name suffers from the same “on-the-nose” syndrome…