stejnegeri

Stejnegeri is a taxonomic suffix used in the naming of various animals, particularly fish, to honor the Norwegian-American ichthyologist and herpetologist, Leonard P. Stejneger. The suffix is appended to the genus or species name to indicate that the species was first described by Stejneger. For example, the Stejneger's long-nosed snake (Rhinocheilus stejnegeri) and the Stejneger's garter snake (Thamnophis stejnegeri) are named in his honor.

Stejneger was born in 1851 in Norway and later moved to the United States, where he made significant contributions to the fields of ichthyology and herpetology. He was a curator at the United States National Museum and later became the director of the California Academy of Sciences. His work focused on the taxonomy and distribution of fish and reptiles, and he described numerous new species.

The Stejnegeri suffix is a common and widely recognized honorific in the field of biology, reflecting the importance of Stejneger's contributions to the classification and understanding of various animal species. His legacy continues to influence modern taxonomic practices and the naming of new species.