What?s in a Name: The Extraordinary Stories Behind Scientific Names

Language, culture and science come together in this fascinating book that connects taxonomy with biology, myth and imagination.

Draco volans. Hedera helix. Tenebrio molitor. These Latin terms may sound like spells, but behind each lies a complex story — sometimes poetic, sometimes absurd, but always memorable. 

A frog named after Freddie Mercury in honour 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.

This book shows how the life sciences intertwine with history, literature, and imagination, to create an extraordinary record of the natural world.

• Curious middle school readers and older will delight in this information filled book.
• Bold typography and an airy layout make the information inviting and easy to absorb.
• Playful illustrations capture the humor and strangeness behind each insect’s name.
• Short, lively texts deliver fascinating facts in quick, catchy, memorable bursts.
• A wonderfully produced hardback reference book using premium paper and ink.

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.

ALEX NOGUÉS is a geologist specializing in groundwater and paleontology. At the age of twelve, he found his first fossil and, years later, discovered that the previously unidentified fossilized organism had been named Alexina papyracea in his honor. Alex has written over sixty books. He lives in Spain.

GUIDO FERRO is an Argentinian illustrator who supplies art and editorial direction, graphic design, and animation for clients worldwide. Additionally, he shares his expertise by hosting courses and workshops on illustration and creativity.