A Source-Book of Biological Names and Terms

I used this book as an undergraduate, in graduate school, and now pull it out to help my children with their science and vocabulary assignments. It is comprehensive, to the point, and has consistenly clear descriptions. I haven't found another book like it.

I've been using this book to source the meanings of scientific terms since 1980 while I was taking chordate anatomy and mammalogy at the Univ. of Washington. I now use this book routinely in preparing lesson plans and lectures for my high school biology classes. Knowing the meaning of the base words often helps the students retain and integrate the term into their vocabulary. The book is invaluable. My favorite word breakdown so far has been the scientific name of the Long Tailed Weasel, Mustela frenata. The literal translation is "the masked ones" (frenata) "who carry off mice"(mus- tela). If you are unsure which reference book in this category is the best book for you, I suggest that you go to the science library of a university near you and find this book and compare it to the books near by. It is by far the easiest to use.

This book is invaluable for anyone who has trouble learning scientific terminology or latin based nomenclature. I have yet to find a term, or latin root that was clearly contained with this text. This text should be standard issue for any science based course..high school, college or graduate level!