what is the root of the word?

[lmnjce]

i was wondering if anyone knew where the word hirudinea came from - where is it from? i know that it is the scientific name of one of the classes of Annelids, i was just wondering, where it originated from.

[canalon]

Hirudo, -inis: latin for leech.

[Sabrina]

FYI, just thought I would add this interesting fact.

http://www.bio.net/bionet/mm/annelida/2 ... 01891.html

Dear Leech Scientists,

I would like to discuss the question how to name leech science. There are
several terms in the scientific literature. Currently it is generally agreed to
use the word hirudinology. It derives from the Latin word Hirudinea,
meaning leeches, and the Greek word logos, science.

Sometimes physicians using leeches in medicine employ the term hirudology. I suppose these words are incorrect. Scientific terms should consist of parts deriving from a single language, usually from Greek. For example we use terms zoology (not 'animology'), entomology (not 'insectology'), herpetology (not 'reptilology'), ornithology (not 'avology'). Thus the term hirudinology is a chimerical word.

Fortunately, there is a suitable but not frequent word.
Some zoologists and physicians have used the term bdellology. It is a
completely Greek word. 'Bdella' means a leech. The ending 'bdella' is
usually employed by leech taxonomists for new names of leech genera:
Phyllobdella, Pterobdella, Beringbedella, etc. I suggest using the word
bdellology. It is the most correct name for the most interesting science _

Best wishes,
Serge Utevsky
Dr. Serge Yu. Utevsky
Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology
V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University



Peace,
Sabrina