Zyzzyva
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Curculionidae
Subfamily: Baridinae
Tribe: Madarini
Genus: Zyzzyva
Casey, 1922
Type species
Zyzzyva ochreotecta
Casey, 1922
Species
  • Z. rufula Hustache 1951
  • Z. ochreotecta Casey, 1922

Zyzzyva /ˈzɪzɪvə/ is a genus of South American weevils, often found on or near palm trees.[1] It was first described in 1922 by Thomas Lincoln Casey Jr., based on specimens obtained in Brazil by Herbert Huntingdon Smith.[2]: 2, 369 

Casey describes Zyzzyva ochreotecta in his book Memoirs on the Coleoptera, Volume 10:[2]: 369–370 

Rather broadly oblong-oval, convex, densely clothed with scales, ochreous and very uniform above, completely concealing the sculpture; beak (♂) scarcely longer than the prothorax, thick, distinctly arcuate, compressed basally, finely, closely punctate, longitudinally furrowed and carinate above; antennae obscure rufous; prothorax two-fifths wider than long, the sides parallel and nearly straight in basal two-fifths, thence oblique and nearly straight to the apex, which is truncate and much less than half as wide as the base; parallel scales dense and directed longitudinally in great part; elytra a third longer than wide, a fifth or sixth wider than the prothorax and nearly two and one-half times as long, the sides parallel, broadly, circularly rounded in apical third, the sutural angle not reëntrant; pygidium closely but not densely clothed with slender and suberect pale squamules; under surface without sexual mark, the first ventral suture fine but very distinct throughout, the others coarse, the fourth not reflexed at the sides. Length 4.3 mm.; width 2.0 mm. Brazil (Santarem). One specimen.

Etymology

Zyzzyva has achieved notoriety for being the last word in several English-language dictionaries.[3][4][5] Casey is commonly credited with naming the genus, although the etymology of the word is unclear.[5][3][1] One theory is that the word was inspired by Zyzza, a former genus of leafhoppers.[3] An entomologist at New York's Museum of Natural History speculated that Casey made up the word as a joke, "to have the last word."[5]

See also

References

Look up zyzzyva in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
  1. 1 2 Andrews, Travis M. (2017-06-27). "The Oxford English Dictionary has a new last word. Bet you can't pronounce it". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  2. 1 2 Casey, Thomas L. (1922). Memoirs on the Coleoptera. Vol. 10. Lancaster, PA: New Era. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.15993. BHL page 15912352.
  3. 1 2 3 Martin, Katherine Connor (2017-06-16). "New words notes June 2017". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University. Archived from the original on 2021-06-27. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  4. ↑ "What is the absolute last word in any dictionary?". Dictionary.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-23. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  5. 1 2 3 Storer, Doug (1981-04-24). "He Looks Like A Pig, A Bear, Kangaroo..." Amazing But True. The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, FL. p. 6-B. Retrieved 2021-06-27.


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