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BACTERIOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE AND TAXWOMY
STEMS
AND COMBINING FORMS OF
OPSIS,
OPS
AND
5PS
Preliminary Statement File No. 4
An OPINION has been requested relative to the correct spelling of
the stems and combining forms of several Greek words:
6 ~ 1 , s = opsis
6,
= ops
and
y':
= I'ops
Specific and subspecific epithets and names of genera, subgenera
and higher taxa derived from these words are common in biology.
Specific epithets which include the stems of these words are numerous Ln microbiology.
The request for an OPINION was initiated by students o f the
yeasts who asked whether the changes of the family name TorulopSaceae to Torulopsidaceae and of the subfamily name Torulopsoideae to T o r u l o p s i d o i d e a e , all based upon the generic name T o r u l OPSis, as proposed by Diddens and Lodder ( l), were etymohzically
justified. The Judicial Commission, under Provision 5-B-10 of
the International Bacteriological Code of Nomenclature, is directed:-"When requested, to prepare Opinions relative to the nomenclatural status o f microorganisms studied by microbiological
techniques, but not classed with the bacteria or the viruses, as,
for example, the yeasts, molds, algae and protozoa. Opinions relating to organisms in these groups shall not be issued until
they have been approved by the Comniission or Executive Committee
charged with the interpretation of the appropriate code of nomenclature (zoological or botanical)."
A brief survey revealed rnwh confusion in bacteriology, in botany
and in zoology with reference to the combining forms of these
words, confusion likewise as t o the declensions of derived nouns
and adjectives, and difficulties arising from confusion of derivatives of these words with other words having somewhat similar
spelling. Exploration of the problem seemed desirable. A preliminary statement has been prepared to give background for consideration and discussion by the Commission.
A knowledge of the stems and of
the combining forms of generic
names and specific epithets
ending in - o p s i s , in - o p s and
in - a p s , or in derivatives of
these or similar suffixes is
desirable for several reasons:-
1. To fix the spelling of the
oblique cases, particular-
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INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN
ly the genitive of generic
names in - o p s i s , - o p s , or
- 5 p s . Microbiologists are
concerned with the problem
because the specific epithets of the names of very
many microorganisms are
the genitives of the generic names of the hosts.
It is found that there is
a confusing lack of uniformity in usage.
2. To fix the spelling of the
names of higher taxa derived from the names of
genera in - o p s i s , - o p s or
- b p s , in particular the
spelling o f the names of
families. A preliminary
survey shows that there is
confusion and lack of uniformity, both in botany
and in zoology.
3. To fix the spelling and
declension of adjectives
ending in - o p s i s , - o p s or
- b p s , and the derivation
of related adjectives.
4.
To differentiate compounds
derived from o p i s and o p s
from compounds derived
from other words with similar spelling.
The m e of the terms “stem” and
’combining form” in biology.
Some confusion exists in biological nomenclature a s to the
meaning and use of the word
“stem” as applied to Latin and
latinized nouns such a s the
names of genera. The phrase
“combining form”, perhaps more
appropriate, is also used, and
may require definition.
The botanical and bacteriological codes of nomenclature agree
that names of certain higher
taxa are Latin words or latinized words, and have definite
suffixes to fix their taxonomic
rank. The ending for family,
for example, is -aceae. Family
names are to be derived from
the name of one of the included
genera. No instructions are to
be found as to modification of
the generic name upon the addition of the suffix.
The zoological code is more explicit. It specifies that the
suffix indicating a family name
shall be added to the stem o f
the t y p e genus.
The word stem as used by the
zoologist is not precisely the
stem of the grammarian. The
latter states that the stems of
Latin nouns in the first declension end in - a , , those o f
the second declension in - 0 ,
and those of the third declension in a consonant or in - i .
The “stem”of the zoological
code is the grammarian’s stem
without the final vowel. This
latter curtailed stem is frequently called the “combining
fo rm ”
.
The combining form is the Latin
name stem without the final
stem vowel. For practical purposes it is obtained by dropping the endings shown for the
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BACTERIOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE
genitive i n the dictionary,
i . e . , t h e -ae i n the f i r s t dec l e n s i o n , t h e - i i n t h e second
and t h e - i s i n t h e t h i r d .
The p h r a s e “ c o m b i n i n g f o r m ”
rather than “stem” w i l l genera l l y be used i n t h i s d i s c u s sion.
Frequency o f combining forms
of opsis, of o p s and of 5 p s
i n names o r e p i t h e t s used
i n b i01 o gv.
A b r i e f and i n c o m p l e t e s u r v e y
showed t h a t more than 500 names
d e r i v e d from opsis, ops o r G p 9
or w i t h t h e s e e n d i n g ? a r e g e n e r i c names o r s p e c i f i c e p i t h e t s i n microbiology, f o r t h e
most p a r t i n t h e f u n g i .
AM)
TAXONOMY
e r algae i n t h e United S t a t e s .
P r o t o z o a n g e n e r i c names e n d i n g
i n - 0 p s i s a r e n o t q u i t e so a bundant p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y .
Of
t h e 6800 p r o t o z o a n g e n e r i c and
s u b g e n e r i c mmes l i s t e d b y
B e c k e r and Kuhn ( S ) , 73 h a v e
t h i s ending. The e n d i n g is
common i n t h e h i g h e r z o o l o g i c a l
p h y l a . B a c t e r i o p s i s and B a c i l f o p s i s are bacterial generic
names.
Further, the specific
e p i t h e t s o f hundreds of species
of p a r a s i t i c f u n g i , b a c t e r i a ,
p r o t o z o a and o t h e r f o r m s a r e
d e r i v e d from g e n e r i c names ending i n - 0 p s i s .
The G r e e k s h a d t h r e e words
transliterated into Latin as
o p s . They a r e :
= ops, = a v o i c e o r word, a
feminine p o e t i c word used o n l y
i n oblique cases i n t h e singul a r . No examples of i t s u s e i n
biology have been found.
&p
The Greek f e m i n i n e noun gy L S ,
= o p s i s , ogseo’s u s u a l l y
means t h e look o r appearance of
a person o r a thing.
It is
perhaps b e s t t r a n s l a t e d i n compounds as a s p e c t .
G e n e r i c names e n d i n g i n - 0 p s i s
a r e common t h r o u g h o u t b i o l o g y .
In b o t a n y S p r a g u e ( 2 ) found
t h a t t w e l v e o f t h e f i r s t hund r e d g e n e r i c names b e g i n n i n g
with A i n Dalla T o r r e s and
Harm’s G e n e r a S i p h o n o g a m a r u m
have - 0 p s i s as t h e f i n a l component.
C l e m e n t s and S h e a r
(3), i n t h e i r index t o t h e second e d i t i o n of Genera of Fungi,
l i s t n e a r l y 5000 g e n e r i c names
of which 193 end i n - o p s i s , a Smith ( 4 )
bout 2 p e r c e n t .
r e c o g n i z e s 13 s u c h g e n e r i c
names among t h o s e of f r e s h wat-
a, & O S = o p s , opis = t h e e y e
o r f a c e , feminine noun.
= Gps, Opis
= t h e eye,
face, countenance,
noun.
feminine
&J,
&tos
The t w o l a t t e r w o r d s , w h i l e
spelled differently i n the
Greek, a r e s i m i l a r l y t r a n s l i t e r a t e d i n t o L a t i n , and f o r
p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s may be cons i d e r e d t o g e t h e r . The e x i s t e n c e of a l o n g b i n some d e r i v e d words may be noted.
B o t a n i c a l g e n e r i c names e n d i n g
i n - o p s a r e h o t common.
A
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INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN
brief search revealed three,
A e g i l o p s , Echinops and B a la n ops. T h i s e n d i n g i s much more
common i n g e n e r i c n a m e s i n
zoology. About a d o z e n w e r e
found i n a check of t h e systema t i c i n d e x of a r e c e n t volume
of B i o l o g i c a l A b s t r a c t s .
Nouns havine. o p s i s a s
_a f i n a l component.
Most Greek stems ending i n - L a
- i w i t h nominatives i n - L S = - i s
i n t h e t h i r d d e c l e n s i o n form
t h e g e n i t i v e by chanEing t h e - i
of t h e s t e m t o --E a n d a d d i n g
--ws f o r t h e s i n g u l a r and - W V
f o r t h e p l u r a l . The Greek l e x icon ( L i d d e l l - S c o t t ) g i v e s nomi n a t i v e ~ Y L S ,g e n i t i v e s i n g u l a r
;;YEWS
and g e n i t i v e p l u r a l
K W E W V . Compound G r e e k n o u n s
e n d i n g i n - 0 ~ ~= s - 0 p s i s a r e
a l s o feminine and a r e d e c l i n e d
as i s K ~ L s . T h i s e n d i n g g i v e s
t o a compound noun t h e meaning
of “ t h a t w h i c h r e s e m b l e s ” o r
‘that has t h e aspect o f ” o r
Buck and
”new” o r “ a s p e c t
P e t e r s e n ( 6 ) l i s t 320 G r e e k
words i n - y t s 2 - p s i s , m o s t l y
f e m i n i n e nouns w i t h a few a d jectives.
Twenty-five are
nouns t h a t end i n - 0 p s i s . O f
t h e s e 14 a r e d e r i v e d from 6 y t . s
= o p s i s , 6 o t h e r s end i n - X O Y L S
= - c o p s i s and 3 i n - s c o p s i s .
h o n g t h e Greek compound nouns
from ~ Y L S: o p s i s a r e t h e f o l lowing:
”.
: g a l i o p s i s , e6.s
t h a t which r e s e m b l e s galium
(a p l a n t ) .
t j t o y ~ s , EWS = d i o p s i s , ebs = a
y a A t 6 y ~ s , EWS
r
view through, p e r s p i c a c i t y .
)~&TOYLS,
= catopsis, ebs =
a s i g h t , view.
n p & o y l ~ s , EWS =proopsis, eds
=
a foreseeing.
&,TO~LS, EWS = a p o p s i s , e6s =
o u t l o o k , view, p r o s p e c t .
ELUO~LS,
E W S = i s o p s i s , e6s
=
a spectacle.
& T O ~ L S , EWS = e p o p s i s ,
e6s =
a view o v e r .
~ ; T C S ~ O ~ ~ws
L S , = h y p e r o p s i s , e6s
= contempt, d i s d a i n .
a;voy~s,
ED)S = s y n o p s i s ,
ebs =
general view, synopsis.
n p 6 o o y ~ s , E:WS = p r o s o p s i s , ebs
= appearance, a s p e c t , view.
An e x c e p t i o n i s t o be found i n :
~ ~ X O ~ ~
L 8S 0, s
2 lycopsis, i d i s =
a v a r i a n t s p e l l i n g of f y c a p s i s
and not a d e r i v a t i v e of o p s i s .
Some of t h e Greek nouns e n d i n g
i n - 0 p s i s w e r e t a k e n o v e r by
t h e Romans. They were p l a c e d
in the t h i r d declension with
g e n i t i v e s i n g u l a r - i s and g e n i t i v e p l u r a l -ium. For example,
the foltlowing a r e found i n
Haynes’ L a t i n D i c t i o n a r y :
y a ~ ~ 6 y LE W~S , = g a l e o p s i s , is.
& V O ~ L S ,
E;OS
= synopsis, i s .
= fycopsis, i s .
(PJote t h a t i n Greek t h i s i s an
imparasyllable, i n Latin parasyllabic.)
AGXO~LS,
tbos
The L a t i n s p l a c e d words e n d i n g
i n -0psis with the parasyllabic
nouns whose n o m i n a t i v e s end i n
-is. The stem i s - 0 p s i - , t h e
combining form - o p s - , and t h e
g e n i t i v e s i n g u l a r - 0 p s i s . Fami l y names d e r i v e d from g e n e r i c
names ending i n - 0 p s i s i n b o t a -
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ny would end i n -0psaceae and
i n zoology i n -opsidae.
However, i n t h e modern L a t i n of
b i o l o g y , t h e r e have developed
two d i v e r s e usages.
Some a u t h o r s f o l l o w what would appear t o
be c l a s s i c p r e c e d e n t i n t h e
c h o i c e o f s t e m and c o m b i n i n g
forms. O t h e r s p l a c e words ending i n -0psis i n the t h i r d dec l e n s i o n w i t h t h e stem e n d i n g
in d , ( l i k e cuspis, cuspidis,
stem cuspid, a s p e a r p o i n t ) , t h e
nominative s i n g u l a r being
- o p s i s , and g e n i t i v e s i n g u l a r
and p l u r a l - o F s i d i s and - o p s i d um. S e a r c h h a s t h u s f a r f a i l e d
t o r e v e a l any L a t i n p r e c e d e n t
f o r t h e l a t t e r . An examination
of t h e l i t e r a t u r e makes i t e v i d e n t t h a t t h e r e i s much c o n f u sion.
Some a u t h o r s c o n s i d e r
t h e g e n d e r o f g e n e r i c names
ending i n - 0 p s i s t o be - o p s i s ,
o t h e x s u s e - o p s i d i s . Some u s e
- o p s - a s t h e combining form i n
names of h i g h e r t a x a , o t h e r s
u s e - o p s i d - . There i s l a c k of
agreement among t h o s e who w r i t e
Latin diagnoses i n describing
plants as to the declension of
t h e s e names.
When t h e - o F s i d a s t h e stem of - 0 p s i s was f i r s t
used h a s n o t b e e n d e t e r m i n e d .
L i n n a e u s ( 7 ) u s e d b o t h stems.
For e x a m p l e , i n one p l a c e ( 8 )
he says: “ a l t e r o i n loco imposi t a Galeopsi cum Heuchero”, and
i n another (9), “gerit f r u c t i f i c a t i on em abso 1 u t e C o reop s i d i s”
and ‘‘vero Coreopsidis generis.”
Other b o t a n i c a l evidence may be
found i n t h e names o f h o s t s
l i s t e d i n the Latin diagnoses
of f u n g u s s p e c i e s .
F o r examp l e , i n S a c c a r d o ( 1 0 ) we f i n d
under Phialea glaucescens, “Hab.
i n c u l e i s fructum Castanopsidi s ” , u n d e r Cercospora thermopsidis,“Hab. i n f o l i i s Thermop s i d i s arenariae”. deToni ( 11)
used t h e p h r a s e s “ i n d i a g n o s i
g e n e r i s B r y o p s i d i s ” and “ i n
Bryopsi de p l umosa
.”
The d i v e r s i t y of usage shows up
p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e names o f
m i c r o o r g a n i s m s whose s p e c i f i c
e p i t h e t s a r e formed from t h e
g e n i t i v e of t h e g e n e r i c name of
the host.
Some have t h e g e n i t i v e s i n g u l a r
ending - o p s i s , such a s Laboulbenia d i o p s i s from t h e i n s e c t
genus D i o p s i s , R i c k i a e u r o p s i s
from t h e i n s e c t genus Europsis
and S t i c t i s chrysopsis from t h e
spe m a t ophyt e genus C h r y s ops i s ,
But a much l a r g e r number c a r r y
the g e n i t i v e ending as -0psidi s , a s i n Cal l o r i a g a l e o p s i d i s
and Cycl o s p o r a ampe 1 O F s i d i s
It i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t
of two o r g a n i s m s p a r a s i t i c on
C h r y s o p s i s , o n e was named
S t i c t i s chrysopsis, the other
Many
4ec i d i um c h r y s op s J d i s
specific epithets ending i n
-0psis apparently a r e adject i v e s ( a s noted below),
.
.
The combining form o r stem a l s o
d e t e r m i n e s t h e s p e l l i n g of t h e
d e r i v e d names of f a m i l i e s and
of h i g h e r t a x a . A b r i e f survey
of p l a n t groups reve*aled Bryopsidaceae from Bryopsis ( a n a l g a l g e n u s ) , Mast i g o c l adopsidaceae from Mastigocladopsis ( a n
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a l g a l genus), Hymenophyllopsidaceae from Hymenophyllopsis ( a
f e r n g e n u s ) and Coriopsidaceae
from C o r i o p s i s ( a g e n u s o f
SFerrnatophyta), D i d d e n s and
Lodder ( 1 2 ) f i r s t proposed t h e
family and subfamily names Toru l o p s a c e a e and T o r u l o p s o i d e a e
d e r i v e d from t h e name o f t h e
y e a s t genus T o r u l o p s i s . L a t e r
( 1 3 ) i t was c o n c l u d e d on t h e
b a s i s of b o t a n i c a l precedents
t h a t t h e names s h o u l d b e
s p e l l e d Torulopsidaceae and
T o r u l o p s i d o i d e a e . N o example
of t h e f o r m a t i o n of a f a m i l y
name from a g e n e r i c name ending
i n -0psis i n bacteriology has
been found. However, a c c e p t ance b y b o t a n i s t s of - o p s - a s
t h e combining form of o p s i s may
be found i n such g e n e r i c names
a s D a c r y o p s e l l a , Discomycops e l l a , Dothideopsella and Leci d i o p s e l l a , . I t would seem t h a t
i n botany t h e tendency has been
t o regard -opsid- rather than
- 0 ~ s -a s t h e c o m b i n i n g form.
I n zoology, t h e s i t u a t i o n seems
to be q u i t e reversed.
In a l l
o a s e s n o t e d t h e combining form
i s - o p s - , a s witness the family
names, Amblyopsidae from Amblyopsi s , Percopsidae from Percop s i s , Limopsi dae from Limopsi s ,
Cambaiopsidae from Cambalopsis,
Chaenopsidae from C h a e n o p s i s ,
S o l e n o p s i d a e from S o l e n o p s i s ,
and t h e s u b f a m i l y name A t r y p o p s i n a e from A t r y p o p s i s . No
example h a s been found i n which
any c o m b i n i n g form o t h e r t h a n
-ops- has been recognized o r
used.
No r e a s o n f o r t h e d i s p a r i t y between p r a c t i c e i n b o t -
any and zoology has been found.
Adject-iues having opsis
as a f i n a l component.
S p r a g u e (13) made a c a r e f u l
s t u d y of t h e c o n t e n t i o n t h a t
t h e ending - 0 p s i s i s e s s e n t i a l l y a d j e c t i v a l . He was concerned p r i m a r i l y with g e n e r i c names
and c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e e n d i n g
was t h a t of nouns. However, h e
s t a t e s : “ N o Greek a d j e c t i v e s
have been t r a c e d ” ( i . e . , a d j e c t i v e s e n d i n g i n - 0 p s i s . ) App a r e n t l y no e x t e n s i v e s t u d y of
t h i s p o i n t was made.
Buck a n d P e t e r s e n ( 1 4 ) l i s t
e i g h t Greek a d j e c t i v e s e n d i n g
Among them
in - o y t s :-opsis.
a r e t h e f o l l o w i n g used o n l y a s
m a s c u l i n e and f e m i n i n e , n e v e r
neuter
.
long
faced.
n h a ~ 6 o y ~= s p l a t y o p s i s , b r o a d
faced.
07: p o y y U ’ A C ) L~ s = s t rongyl ops i s ,
round faced.
C ~ ~ X C O ~ Lp Sh a c o p s i s , f r e c k l e faced.
p5npo+~s= macropsis,
It i s s t a t e d ( p r i v a t e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e , Miss L o d d e r ) t h a t
these a d j e c t i v e s d i d n o t occur
i n the c l a s s i c a l o r Hellenistic
period.
I t seems t h a t i n b i o l o g i c a l n o m e n c l a t u r e many a d j e c t i v a l s p e c i f i c e p i t h e t s endi n g i n -0,psis have been coined.
The f o l l o w i n g names of s p e c i e s
a r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h o s e
used i n microbiology:
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Melanconium h y s t e r i o p s i s =
comb-like,
L e p i o t a c o p r i n o p s i s = Coprinuslike.
Fusarium a c r e m o n i o p s i s z Acremon i um - 1i k e
Moelleroclavus p e n i c i l i i o p s i s =
Penicillium-like.
Hysterium g l o n i o p s i s = Gloniumlike.
Heterochaete kneiffiopsis =
Knei f f i a - l i k e .
Septoria melanopsis = dark,
black - l i k e .
Dematium c h a e t o p s i s : s p i n e like.
.
It w i l l be noted t h a t a p p a r e n t l y i n biological use adjectives
i n -0psis a r e r e g a r d e d a s havi n g o n e e n d i n g - i s and u s a b l e
as s p e c i f i c e p i t h e t s w i t h g e n e r i c names i n t h e n e u t e r , a s
w e l l a s masculine and feminine.
No c a s e has been noted i n which
t h e L a t i n e n d i n g s - i s , is, e ,
a s i n communis, i s , e a r e used.
Nouns havine O R S a s
a f i n a l component.
The two Greek words which a r e
s i g n i f i c a n t i n f o r m a t i o n of
compounds a r e 6 y = O ~ S ,s i g h t ,
and Gu, = O c s , eye o r face. All
form t h e g e n i t i v e i n - n o s =
- p o s . Concerning t h e s e endings
Buck and P e t e r s e n ( 1 4 ) make t h e
following p e r t i n e n t observat i o n s . “Approach t o s u f f i x a l
u s e o c c u r s commonly i n t h e compounds of gy, e y e , f a c e ( g e n .
- p o s ) . Thus
the force
of -coy i s p r a c t i c a l l y t h a t of a
p o s s e s s i v e s u f f i x and may be
....
AND TAXONOMY
t r a n s l a t e d by ‘having’ or
‘characterized by’.
Even-in
Homeric t i m e s t h e f o r m - o y
shows s c a r c e l y a t r a c e of i t s
o r i g i n a l meaning, b u t i s u s e d
l i k e many a s u f f i x m e r e l y t o
dynote s i m i l a r i t y , e. g . , i n
O L V : ~ ‘ w i n e c o l o r e d ’ when a p p l i e d t o t h e s e a , a%9wy ‘ f i e r y ’
used of b r o n z e . ”
“There i s a
c o n s i d e r a b l e g r o u p of a n i m a l
names.
I t i s p o s s i b l e to read
t h e n o t i o n of appurtenance i n t o
ap:wyr
‘wood p e c k e r ’ : S p d s
oak, and o f agency i n t o a x & A w y
‘mole’ ( d i g g e r ) : a x & h h w . But
i n m o s t of t h e m t h e s u f f i x
has no t a n g i b l e meaning.
In
general i t i s impossible t o
draw a s h a r p l i n e between t r u e
compounds and s u f f i x a l -oy and
-wy
.
I,
These a u t h o r s l i s t 10 Greek
compounds a s d e r i v e d from 6y =
o p s , s i y h t , and 14 Greek nouns
t o which o y i s n o t d e f i n i t e l y
related.
They a l s o l i s t 4 5
G r e e k c o m p o u n d s w i t h -coy =
- Z p s , eye, f a c e , a s t h e f i n a l
component, and 4 4 Greek nouns
w i t h - w y n o t d i r e c t l y so d e rived.
Examples o f e a c h o f t h e 4
groiips o f Greek compounds a r e
listed.
Compounds o f 6 ,
z
ops, sight.
A
a ~ 0 o \ y ,0x0s = aethops,
- o p i s , f i e r y - lookine;.
2. x g p - o y , o n o s = c h a r o p s ,
- o p i s , b r i g h t - e y e d , mascul i n e and feminine a d j e c t i v e .
1.
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INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN
Nouns w i t h -ow = ops a s
suf f i x .
O ~ O S=
scalops,
o r i s ,t h e d i g g e r , t h e mole,
masculine noun.
2 . ~ p < o y l , ones = dryops, opis,
woodpecker, masculine noun.
1. a x d i h o y ,
Compounds o f L q i =
eye, face.
L
QJS.,
n { n A w y , o n o s = cyclGy;s,
o'pis, c i r c l e e y e , C y c l o p s ,
masculine noun.
2 . T U ~ X & I , $ n o s = typhlops,
Spis, b l i n d - f a c e d , b l i n d ,
m a s c u l i n e and f e m i n i n e a d ie c t i v e .
1.
Nouns w i t h -ww z-Eps a s
suffix.
#
I
1. a ~ y ~ h w ywnos
,
=
aegilcps,
;pis, w i l d o a t s , masculine
noun.
2 . iispwy,
W ~ O S
= hydrzps, &is,
d r o p s y , masculine noun.
previously noted, botanical
g e n e r i c names e n d i n e ; i n -ops
a r e n o t n u m e r o u s ; ,The G r e e k
m a s c u l i n e noun a ~ y ~ l w yw ,z o s
becomes t h e g e n e r i c name Aegilo p s , opis, which i s t r e a t e d a s
f e m i n i n e ( a s i n Aegilops orata).
Echinops, opis, (Phoma
echinopis) i s m a s c u l i n e ( a s i n
Echinops dahuricus). Some o t h e r g e n e r i c names a r e Massarielfops ( F u n g i ) , Camarops (Fung i ) , Echinops (Sperm.), Chamaerocs ( S p e r - ) ,
B O O F S (Sperm.),
Melanops ( F u n g i ) and Stenops
(Fungi).
Some s p e c i f i c e p i AS
t h e t s i n t h e g e n i t i v e have been
n o t e d , a s Phoma echinopis, Metasphaeria chamaeropis and Puccinia aegiloy;is. A v a r i a n t i s
found i n Eredo boopidicola from
B O O ~ S(Sperm.) i n which t h e comh i n i n g farm i s a p p a r e n t l y b e 1 i e v e d . t o b e -opid-. A l i m i t ed s e a r c h i n b o t a n i c a l l i t e r a t u r e has r e v e a l e d b u t one famil y name d e r i v e d from a g e n e r i c
name e n d i n g i n - o p s , n a m e l y
Balanopsidaceae, from Ralanops
z acorn face.
Apparently t h i s
i s based upon t h e assumption of
a c o m b i n i n g f o r m balanopsidand n o t balanop-.
The s i t u a t i o n i n zoology seems
q u i t e i n c o n s i s t e n t . I n a maj o r i t y of c a s e s t h e c l a s s i c a l
stem i s recognized a s i n Prionopidae from Prionops, Oonopidae
from OonoFs, Cyclopidae from
C y c l o p s , C r y p t o ~ i d a ef r o m
f r y p t o p s , T y p h l o p i d a e from
TyphfO F : ; , Brachyopidae f r o m
Bra c hy o p s , L e p t o typ h 1 op i d ae
from Leptotyphlops. However,
t h e r e a r e some z o o l o g i s t s who
r e g a r d - o p s - as t h e combining
form, whence Avocettinopsidae
from Avcce ttinops, Eryopsidae
from Eryops, Ceratopsidae from
Ceratops, Tramatopsidae f r o m
Tramatops, and Edopsidae from
Edops. I t i s a p p a r e n t t h a t i n
b i o l o g y t h r e e g e n i t i v e s of
O ~ Shave b e e n r e c o g n i z e d , t h e
c l a s s i c oFis, and a l s o opsis
and opidis, t h e second i n 2001ogy a n d t h e l a s t i n b o t a n y .
These g i v e combining forms t h a t
would y i e l d f o r f a m i l y names i n
bot any opaceae , - oy;saceae and
I
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BACTERIOLOCICAL NOMENCLATURE AND TAXONOMY
-0pidaceae.
I n zoology t h e
c o r r e s p o n d i n g forms would b e
- o p i d a e , - o p s i d a e and - o p i d i d I t would seem t h a t t h e r e
ae.
e x i s t s undesirable confusion.
Ad i e c t i v e s having ops a s
a f i n a l component.
The G r e e k s a l s o o c c a s i o n a l l y
used - m y = - G p and - o y = - o p s
a s masculine o r feminine, never
neuter; adjectival endings, as
i n t h e following:
y h a u x L y , i h o s = g i a u c o p s , cjpis
= w i t h gleaming e y e s .
povdy, ;nos
= mon6ps, 6 p i s =
one -eyed.
~ b p d o y , wnos 2 e u r y o p s , o p i s =
far-seeing.
O T ~ Q O ~ 0x0s
,
= sterops, opis =
flashing.
Some Greek a d j e c t i v e s ending i n
ops h a v e b e e n u s e d a s g e n e r i c
names, a s Typhlops i n zoology.
Adjectives ending i n -ops a r e
sometimes used a s specific e p i thets i n biology, as witness
the following: Sphaeria a e t h i o p s , Dothidia melanops.
Nouns having endinvs .der i v e d f r o m ops or o p s i s .
The stems --WE- = - 6 p - from &y =
bps, and -on- 2 - O F ; - from 6 y =
ops, a l s o appear i n v a r i o u s
Greek n o u n s .
Feminine nouns:
b t u m l c x = oxyopia, s h a r p s i g h t -
edness .f
x u x h . m ~ a = r y c l t j p i a , The T a l e
of t h e f C y c l c p s .
OTEQWTT~ = s t e r a @ ,
f l a s h , gleam
or sheen.
D
R
s a w n q z esbpZ;, a p p e a r a n c e ,
look.
In a f e w Greek f e m i n i n e nouns
the stem opid- appears a s i n :
c i \ p c x h h ~ s , i S o s = haemalcpis,
i d i s , a c l o t of b l o o d .
X U V ~ ~ L SL S, O S =. c y n z p i s , i d i s ,
t h e s h a m e l e s s one.
x u c x v i h ~ s ,L S O S
: cyangpis,
i d i s , dark-eyed.
Neuter nouns:
n p 6 o o n o v = prosopurn, f a c e , v i s a g e , countenance.
xux?&Lov
CYclGpiurn, t h e
w h i t e a r o u n d t h e b a l l of t h e
e y e , a l s o d i m i n u t i v e of C y clops.
a x o h 6 n i o v z s c o f o p i u m , diminut i v e of s c o l o p s .
Masculine nouns :
xuv&nTs, o u = c y n z p g s , a e , t h e
dog eyed one.
xucxv&nqs, o u : c y a n z p z s , a e ,
t h e d a r k eyed one.
Ad j e c t i v e s h
a
v
w
a e r i v e d from .Gw I O P S ,
tiy
ops o r & ~ L S = o p s i s ,
Among Greek a d j e c t i v e s c o n t a i n i n g t h e stem - o p s - a r e s e v e r a l
t h a t a r e used w i t h s u i t a b l e
endings f o r a l l t h r e e genders,
such a s :
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INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN
f
n p o o o y ~ ~ o sO,S ,
ov = prosops i u s , a , urn, f u l l i n view.
~ a ~ : d y ~ oo ss ,, o v = c a t o p s i u s ,
a , urn, i n s i g h t o f , o p p o s i t e .
A L e i h t T s , Ts, E S
lithGpes, 'es,
e s , looking , l i k e , s t o n e .
n o ~ h w n q s , qs, E S z c o e l Z p Z s ,
&, e s , hollow eyed.
xp.phonqs,
4
qf s , E/ S = amblSpZs,
There a r e a l s o s e v e r a l Greek
a d j e c t i v e s with these endings
i n c l u d i n g t h e stem - o F i - , a s :
Es, e s , d i m , bedimmed, d a r k .
xunhl;nLos, o s ,
ov
= cycl6pius,
a , urn, Cyclopian.
k v G n ~ o s , o s , ov
um, f a c e t o f a c e .
enzpius, a,
There a r e numerous Greek a d j e c t i v e s w i t h e n d i n g s which i n c l u d e t h e combining form - o p - ,
as :
I
,
= myzpus, a , urn,
short sighted. ,
x u a v w n o s , o s , o v = cyanGpus, a ,
u m , d a r k 1ookir-y.
Z x p n ~ w d s , o ' s , o v = arnplGpus, a ,
um, bedimmed, d a r k .
x p u c ~ w n o s , o s , o'n : c h r y s G p u s ,
a , urn, w i t h golden eyes, beaming
l i k e ?old, gold-colored.
puwn&s,
ov
os,
#
I
,
I
There i s always danger of conf u s i o n of a d j e c t i v e s d e r i v e d
from o p s and e n d i n g i n -,opus
w i t h a d j e c t i v e s ending i n -opus
b u t d e r i v e d from n o h , 7 ~ 0 6 6 s =
p u s , p o d i s , t h e f o o t . For e x ample, t h e ad j ec t i v e chrysopus
i n i t s m a s c u l i n e form may mean
golden eyed o r golden footed.
Another g r o u p of Greek a d j e c t i v e s used i n t h r e e genders
having t h e stem - O F - i n c l d e s
t h o s e e n d i n g i n qs, vs, E S
Z s , e's, e s , a s :
d
&eUOIITTlS,
t
7s
,.
/
ES
OXYZFGS, e'S,
X
e s , sharp-sighted.
There a r e a l s o a few Greek a d j e c t i v e s , feminine o n l y , which
show t h 5 sterjl - o p i d - , a s :
nunhwn~s, LSOS 2 cyclZf;is,
i d i s , cyclopean.
p o w A n ~ s , L ~ O S ,= b o C F i s , i d i s ,
oxeyed.
xp u o G n L s , L 6 0 s = c h r y s G p i s ,
i d i s , w i t h golden eyes.
Pouns o r a d j e c t i v e s which a r e
g e r i v e d from words o t h e r t h a n
t h e Greek 5, or &, o r ~ Y L S ,b u t
w h i c h may b e c o n f u s e d w i t h
them.
-
The L a t i n s a l s o had a word O p s
apparently q u i t e unrelated t o
t h e Greek &+I = E p s , I t may appear i n b i o l o g i c a l l i t e r a t u r e
through d e r i v a t i v e s .
o p s , o p i s = Feminine noun, powe r , might, p l e n t y .
O p s , OFis = Feminine noun, Godd e s s of P l e n t y .
i n o p s , o p i s : a d j e c t i v e of one
ending, without resources,
h e l p l e s s , weak.
Two o t h e r Greek words may a p pear i n compounds and may prove
t o be c o n f u s i n g .
~ ~ I L O S ,a,
ov
z
o p s i u s , a , urn
adjective, late.
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=
The combining
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BACTERIOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE AND TAXONOMY
form i s o p s - o r o p s i - . I t i s
t h e f i r s t c o m p o n e n t o f many
cor)pound G r e e k n o u n s , a s i n
L y L y o v o s , 0 3 , ov = opsigonus,
a , urn, l a t e b o r n .
d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n of t h e above
compounds f r o m t h o s e d e r i v e d
from o t h e r w o r d s w i t h s i m i l a r
s p e l ling
.
2.
= o p s u m , i.
Greek
n e u t e r n o u n , cooked m e a t , s e a soning, sauce, d a i n t y f a r e , or
fish (a dainty).
Opso- cons t i t u t e s t h e f i r s t component of
s e v e r a l l G r e e k words a s i n :
t + o n o ~ o s , 6 u = opsopoeus, i ,
m a s c u l i n e noun, cook.
b y o r t 6 v o s , o s , ov = o p s o p o n u s ,
a, urn, a d j e c t i v e , d r e s s i n g o f
foods e l a b o r a t e l y .
The s t e m a l s o a p p e a r s a s t h e
l a s t e l e m e n t of some Greek compounds , a s i n :
n c t p o y ~ s , d ~ o s= p a r o p s i s ,
idis, F e m i n i n e noun, a d a i n t y
s i d e di,sh.
n o h u o y ~ a= polyopsia, a e , Femi n i n e noun, a b u n d a n c e o f m e a t s
or f i s h .
n o h u ~ y o s , o s , ov = p o l y o p s u s ,
a , urn, a d j e c t i v e , ab.ounding i n
fish, luxurious.
&yov,
ou
Summa r y
.
1. T h e r e i s c o n f u s i n g l a c k of
agreement throughout b i o l o g y ,
including b a c t e r i o l o g y and
microbiology, a s t o t h e c o r r e c t
combining fprm o f t h e Greek
words o r s u f f i x e s o p s i s , O F S ,
and G p s .
This confusion is
m a n i f e s t i n d i f f e r e n t methods
of f o r m a t i o n ( 1 ) o f s p e c i f i c
e p i t h e t s d e r i v e d from g e n e r i c
names, ( 2 ) o f names o f h i g h e r
t a x a , ( 3 ) of a d j e c t i v e s e n d i n g
i n - 0 p s i s o r ops o r d e r i v a t i v e s of t h e s e a n d ( 4 ) t h e
Nouns h a v i n g - 0 p s i s a s a
f i n a l component c l a s s i c a l l y
have a c o m b i n i n g form -ops-.
When t r a n s l i t e r a t e d i n t o L a t i n ,
s u c h nouns end i n - o p s i s , w i t h
g e n i t i v e s i n g u l a r - 0 p s i s . The
names of h i g h e r t a x a would l o g i c a l l y b e made b y a d d i n g t h e
a p p r o p r i a t e e n d i n g ; f o r examp l e , t h e name of a f a m i l y o f
p l a n t s o r b a c t e r i a would end i n
- o p s a c e a e , a n d t h e name o f a
f a m i l y i n z o o l o g y would end i n
- ops idae.
Z o o l o g i s t s have i n g e n e r a l f o l lowed t h e c l a s s i c p r o c e d u r e .
B o t a n i s t s have i n t h e m i n o r i t y
of c a s e s f o l l o w e d L a t i n p r e c e dent, but i n a l a r g e proportion
of c a s e s t h e y h a v e assumed t h e
combining form t o b e -opsidand h a v e f o r m e d t h e s p e c i t i c
epithets i n the genitive as
-opsidis and t h e f a m i l y names
a s -0psidaceae. The m a t t e r i s
particularly confusing i n
microbiology which d e a l s w i t h
names n o t o n l y of b a c t e r i a b u t
of p l a n t s and a n i m a l s a s w e l l .
3. A d j e c t i v e s e n d i n g i n -0psis
i n G r e e k a r e m a s c u l i n e and f e m i n i n e , never n e u t e r .
Were any
t r a n s l i t e r a t e d by t h e L a t i n s ?
If s o , what g e n d e r s ? I n b i o l o ~ y h, o w e v e r , a d j e c t i v e s e n d i n g
in -0psis have been used a s
specific epithets with neuter
nouns.
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4.
Nouns h a v i n g O F S o r o p s a s
a f i n a l component c l a s s i c a l l y
t r a n s l i t e r a t e d have t h e g e n i t i v e - o p i s o r -;pis
and t h e
combining form - o p - o r - 6 p - .
The names of h i q h e r t a x a would
l o g i c a l l y b e formed b y a d d i n g
t h e a p p r o p r i a t e ending, for exa m p l e , t h e name of a f a m i l y of
p l a n t s o r b a c t e r i a would end i n
- o p a c e a e , a n d t h e name o f a
f a m i l y i n z o o l o g y would end i n
-opidae
.
A m a j o r i t y of b i o l o g i s t s h a v e
f o l l o w e d t h e c l a s s i c form b u t
there are exceptions.
Three
g e n i t i v e s have h e e n u s e d , t h e
c l a s s i c - o p i s , b u t a l s o -0psis
arid - o p i d i s .
These give t h e
combining forms - O F - , - o p s - and
-opid- which would y i e l d f a m i l y
names ( b o t a n y and b a c t e r i o l o g y )
ending i n -opaceae, -0psaceae
o r - o p i d a c e a e , and i n z o o l o g y
- o ~ i d a ,e - O F S i d a e o r - o p i d i d a e
.
5.
Greek a d j e c t i v e s i n - o p o r
- 6 ~ sa r e m a s c u t i n e or f e m i n i n e ,
A few specific
never neiiter.
e p i t h e t s e n d i n t : i n - o ~ sa r e
in use i n biology.
Perhaps
t h e y may b e regardeci a s a d j e c tives with a s i n g l e ending.
I n v i e w o f t h e p r e s e n t u s e of
s e v e r a l combining forms and d e c l e n s i o n s of g e n e r i c names and
specific e p i t h e t s ending i n
- o p s i s , - o p s and ops and t h e
consequent confusion i n t h e
naming of m i c r o o r g a n i s m s , c o n s i d e r a t i o n a n d d i s c u s s i o n of
the following a l t e r n a t i v e sup~
~
g e s t i o n s a r e i n v i t e d by a l l i n I t may b e emphasized
terested.
t h a t t h e problems h e r e i n d i s c u s s e d a r e t y p i c a l of many t h a t
concern b a c t e r i o l o g y , botany
and z o o l o g y . M i c r o h i o l o g i s t s
are p a r t i c u l a r l y concerned a s
they must u s e t h e names o f
m i c r o o r g a n i s m s i n c l u d e d among
b a c t e r i a , Fungi, a l g a e , p r o t o zoa a n d v i r u s e s , a n d a l s o t h e
names of t h e i r animal. and p l a n t
hosts.
Some c o o r d i n a t i o n a n d
u n i t y of a c t i o n among t h e t h r e e
g r o u p s of b i o l o g i s t s would be
h e l p f u l . Wow may i t b e i m p l e men t ed ?
Proposals: -
Al.
An e f f o r t s h o u l d b e made
through a p p r o p r i a t e c h a n n e l s t o
s e c u r e a uniform r u l i n g i n bact e r i o l o q y , b o t a n y and z o o l o g y
r e l a t i v e t o t h e combining forms
o f names o f g e n e r a and of s p e cific epithets ending i n
- O F S ~ S ,- o p s a n d - ; j p s , a n d of
the nsmes o f h i g h e r t a x a d e r i v e d from them.
A 2 . The a p p r o p r i a t e o r recommended c o r r b i n i n g f o r m s of g e n e r i c names governed b y t h e I n t e r n a t i o n:i 1 B a c t e r i o l o g i c a 1
Code of N o m e n c l a t i i r e e n d i n g i n
-0psis i s - O F S - , i n -ops or
- 0 ~ si s -oy:-. The a p p r o p r i a t e
g e n i t i v e ending f o r -0psis is
-opsis, f o r - o p s and - t i p s i s
- 0 p i S . F a m i l y names d e r i v e d
from g e n e r i c names e n d i n g i n
- o ~ s i ss h o u l d end i n - 0 p s a c e a e .
S p e c i f i c e p i t h e t s and g e n i t i v e s
formed on t h e a s s u m p t i o n of
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Page 125
BACI'ERIOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE AND TAXONOMY
other spellings of the combining forms are to be regarded as
orthographic variants which may
be corrected.
References
(1). Diddens, H . A. and J. Lodder. An Appeal for Unification of
(2).
(3).
(4).
(5).
(6).
the Generic Taxonomy in the Mycotoruloideae. Mycopathologia
2 : l - 6 . 1939.
$Prague, T. A. The Gender of Generic Names. A Vindication
of Article 7 2 ( 2 ) . Reprinted from Kew Bulletin Nos. 6 - 9 .
1935.
Clements, F. E . and C. L. Shear. The Genera of Fungi.
New York. 1931.
Smith, G. hl. The Fresh-water Algae o f the United States.
Ed. 2. New York. 1950.
Becker, E. F. and L. B. Kuhn. Genera of the Protozoa. h l i m eoqraphed. Unpaged. Ames, Iowa. U. S. A. 1939.
Buck, C. D. and Walter Petersen. A Reverse Index of Greek
Nouns and Adjectives. Chicago. Undated (probably 1939).
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