Updated 3 Nov. 2024
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Amazonspinther Bührnheim, Carvalho, Malabarba & Weitzman 2008 Amazon, referring to Amazon basin, where it occurs; spinthḗr (Gr. σπῐνθήρ), spark, referring to closely related Spintherobolus and appearance of yellow neuromasts on head, also observed on Spintherobolus
Amazonspinther dalmata Bührnheim, Carvalho, Malabarba & Weitzman 2008 Portuguese word referring to spotted color pattern of the Dalmatian dog breed, which this fish resembles; origin of word is linked to the Dalmatia region of Croatia, where the breed is said to have been developed
Spintherobolus Eigenmann 1911 spinthḗr (Gr. σπῐνθήρ), spark (“emitting sparks” per Eigenmann); obolus, from obelós (Gr. ὀβελός), a spit (sharp end of a lance), which Eigenmann, who said name means “emitting sparks,” confused with the verb spit (to emit small bursts of sparks), referring to yellow neuromasts on head of S. papilliferus
Spintherobolus ankoseion Weitzman & Malabarba 1999 ánkos (Gr. ᾰ̓́γκος), a mountain valley or glen; ēḯōn (Gr. ἠίων), shore or beach, referring to its occurrence between coastal mountains and the sea
Spintherobolus broccae Myers 1925 in honor of aquarium-fish collector Rolf Brocca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who collected holotype [although named after a man, “ae” is an acceptable way to form a genitive from a masculine noun that ends in “a”]
Spintherobolus leptoura Weitzman & Malabarba 1999 leptós (Gr. λεπτός), thin or slender; ourá (Gr. οὐρά), tail, referring to its relatively slender caudal peduncle
Spintherobolus papilliferus Eigenmann 1911 papilla (L.), bud; ferus (L.), bearing or carrying, referring to its “excessively developed” tactile papillae (neuromasts) on head