blochii

Blochii is a Latinized species epithet used in the scientific names of various organisms. In binomial nomenclature the second part of a name often honors a person, and blochii typically commemorates individuals with the surname Bloch, most commonly the 18th‑century German naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch. The epithet is not a standalone taxon; it is a descriptor attached to different genera to denote separate species.

The form blochii is widely encountered in zoological and botanical names across many groups. A well‑known example in zoology is Pseudotropheus blochii, a cichlid fish from Lake Malawi that is familiar to aquarium enthusiasts. In plants and other animal groups, the same epithet appears in diverse genera, each representing a distinct species rather than a single lineage.

Linguistic notes on the epithet: blochii follows Latin genitive conventions used to form eponymous species names, typically indicating “of Bloch.” The exact form can reflect the honoree’s gender and the taxonomic code under which the name was published. While blochii is common for male honorees, other forms may be used when naming after different individuals, depending on historical and nomenclatural practices.

Overall, blochii serves as one of many eponymic epithets in taxonomy, signaling recognition of Bloch’s contributions to natural history rather than identifying a unified taxonomic group.