Derivation of the name Verconia

March 19, 2002
From: Dave Behrens

Bill:
Can you tell me the derivation of Basedow & Hedley's 1905 names Verconia verconis and Tambja verconis? Several author's have given these species common names of Verco's this and that. Aside from my disdain for common names, this does not seem correct to me and I do not have access to Basedow & Hedley's paper.
Thanks,
Dave Behrens

dave@seachallengers.com

Behrens, D., 2002 (Mar 19) Derivation of the name Verconia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6461

Dear Dave,
They were both named after Sir Joseph Verco (1851 - 1933) a prominent 'citizen' and amateur naturalist in the early days of Adelaide, South Australia who is still held in high regard there, with various scientific and medical prizes being named after him, and also the State Government's fisheries research vessel.

He practised medicine in South Australia from 1878 and in 1885 helped found the Medical School of the University of Adelaide where he lectured in medicine 1887-1915. He was a very enthusiastic naturalist and shell collector, doing what was probably the first extensive study of sublittoral marine life in the region by dredge. Shells, specimens, books, apparatus and money gifted to the South Australian Museum between 1914-33, eventually helped to form an extensive collection of the South Australian fauna.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Mar 19). Comment on Derivation of the name Verconia by Dave Behrens. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6461

Related messages

  1. Professor P.R. Bergquist
    From: Bill Rudman, September 14, 2009
  2. Alec Cameron - Family History
    From: Melissa Hellwig, August 8, 2006
  3. Joel Hedgpeth
    From: Mike Neubig, August 7, 2006
  4. Jim Lance
    From: Bill Rudman, March 3, 2006

Show factsheet and all related messages