Verreauxs

Verreauxs is a common-name designation used for several animal species that were named in honor of Jules Verreaux, a 19th-century French naturalist and collector. The label is not a taxonomic group; rather, it appears across different taxa and regions, reflecting historical naming practices rather than related biology.

Notable species bearing the Verreaux’s name include a range of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) is a diurnal lemur native to southern Madagascar. It is notable for its long white fur, social groups, and distinctive bipedal-appearing hopping when moving on the ground. Verreaux’s eagle (Aquila verreauxii) is a large bird of prey found in southern Africa, occupying open habitats and mountainous areas, where it hunts small to medium mammals and birds. Verreaux’s eagle-owl (Bubo lacteus) is one of Africa’s largest owls, a nocturnal predator inhabiting forests and savannas, often seen roosting in trees during the day.

In reptiles and other groups, Verreaux’s gecko (Phelsuma verreauxi) is a day gecko native to Madagascar, commonly kept in captivity. Verreaux’s starling (Lamprotornis verreauxii) is a small to medium-sized passerine of southern Africa, found in woodlands and savannas.

The common use of Verreaux’s in species names highlights the impact of Jules Verreaux’s contributions to natural history rather than any biological relatedness among the species.