cockerelli

Cockerelli is a Latinized species epithet used in the scientific names of various organisms to honor individuals with the surname Cockerell (or related family names). It is not a taxon on its own, but a descriptive element appended to a genus name to form a species name, reflecting a historical practice of acknowledging contributors to discovery or study.

Formation and gender: The epithet cockerelli is the masculine genitive form derived from the surname Cockerell. In botanical or zoological nomenclature, the gendered endings follow Latin grammar rules: cockerelli for a male honoree, cockerellae for a female honoree, and cockerellorum for multiple honorees. The exact form is determined by the code governing the respective kingdom (ICZN for animals, ICN for plants).

Usage and purpose: Epithets like cockerelli are used to memorialize researchers, collectors, or benefactors associated with the discovery or description of a species. They convey attribution within taxonomic literature and help record the historical context of a species’ identification. The same epithet can appear in different genera, provided each name was published independently and is not a later homonym.

Taxonomic context: Naming follows the respective nomenclatural codes, with the genus name and epithet forming the binomial. The author citation and year accompany the binomen to indicate who described the species and when. Because multiple, unrelated taxa may carry the same epithet in different genera, readers rely on the full binomial and author to distinguish them.

Notable considerations: The use of personal names as epithets, including cockerelli, reflects historic practices in taxonomy and can lead to confusion without genus context. Taxonomic databases and original species descriptions are essential resources for accurate identification and cross-reference.