Fun with Linnaean Taxonomy

Often the scientific names of plants and animals are rather pedestrian or prosaic.
Sometimes, they are a delight. Here are some of my favorites

• Megaptera novaeangliae (Giant-winged New Englander) Humpback Whale
   
• Mimus polyglottos (many-tongued mimic) Northern Mockingbird
   
• Livyatan melvillei (Melville's Leviathan) a prehistoric species of Sperm Whale.
  It seems only right to include an homage to Herman Melville in this list.
   
• Heliocoprion (Spiral Saw) prehistoric shark with a strange tooth-whorl.
   
• Spongiforma squarepantsii (Sponge-like Squarepants) a species of fungus discovered in Malaysia in 2011. 
   
• Here's a trio, because I am such a fan of Patrick O'Brian Aubriad. Three weevils, one for O'Brian himslef. One for Dr. Maturin, the singular natural historian, and intelligence agent. And the third one for Bob Weir, in thanks for making the movie, Master and Commander.
  Daisya obriani, Theognete maturini,  Theognete weiri 
  http://www.hmssurprise.org/naming-weevils 

And my all-time favorite
Vampyroteuthis infernalis (Vampire-squid from Hell) video