wagleri

Wagleri is a Latinized species epithet used in the scientific names of several animal species to honor the German naturalist Wagler. It is not a taxon by itself; rather, it forms part of the binomial name that identifies a species. The form wagleri is the genitive singular of Wagler and is written in lowercase as part of the species name.

Notable uses include Tropidolaemus wagleri, commonly known as Wagler's pit viper, a venomous snake native to parts of Southeast Asia such as the Malay Peninsula and surrounding regions; and Gekko wagleri, or Wagler's gecko, a small gecko found in various parts of Southeast Asia. There are other reptile and amphibian species that bear the wagleri epithet, reflecting Wagler's influence on early zoological science.

Etymology and scope: The epithet wagleri is named to honor the German naturalist Wagler, and appears in taxa across several genera. It is most common in zoological contexts, with usage concentrated among reptiles and amphibians, though historical literature may document additional instances across animal groups.

In taxonomy, wagleri functions as a specific epithet within a binomial name and is distinct from the genus. It indicates an attribution to Wagler rather than a relationship or description of the organism itself. The epithet is one of many eponymous names used to recognize contributors to natural history.

See also: Eponym (taxonomy).