Gammarus

/ɡæˈmɛrəs/ noun

Definition

A genus of small freshwater and marine crustaceans commonly called scuds, amphipods, or freshwater shrimp.

Etymology

Named from the Greek letter gamma (Γ) because the creature's body is curved like the letter; the genus was established in scientific taxonomy in the 1700s.

Kelly Says

Scientists named these creatures after the Greek letter gamma because of their hunched, comma-like shape—a perfect example of how observation leads to clever naming that helps us remember what something looks like.

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