What's in a Name?

Draco volans. Hedera helix. Tenebrio molitor. These Latin terms sound like spells, but behind each lies a story—sometimes poetic, sometimes absurd, always memorable. This book uncovers the secrets of scientific names: why they exist, how they are created, and the tales that shaped them. A frog named after Freddie Mercury in honor of his extraordinary voice; an ichneumon wasp christened Moby Dick for its pale, harpoon-like form; a jumping spider called Bagheera kiplingi—a double nod to Kipling and his Jungle Book panther; even a dinosaur, Oviraptor philoceratops, once condemned as an egg thief, later celebrated as a devoted parent. Playful illustrations capture the humor and strangeness behind each name, while short, lively texts deliver fascinating facts in quick, catchy bursts. Bold typography and an airy layout make the information inviting and easy to absorb, turning each spread into a moment of discovery for curious readers. More than a catalog of creatures, this book shows how the life sciences intertwine with history, literature, and imagination, to create an extraordinary record of the natural world. Curious, surprising, and beautifully crafted, What’s in a Name? transforms the index of life into a cabinet of wonders where language, discovery, and storytelling converge.