Comments on: What the Shell #7: Lady-in-waiting Venus http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/2008/08/04/what-the-shell-7-lady-in-waiting-venus/ science edu + ocean info / gelatinous for the masses Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:24:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jason http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/2008/08/04/what-the-shell-7-lady-in-waiting-venus/#comment-60614 Jason Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:13:59 +0000 http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/?p=527#comment-60614 I did a little more research on the name of this animal. This clams is in the genus <i>Chione</i>. In Greek mythology, <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=CHIONE" rel="nofollow">Chione</a> was a snow nymph, daughter of <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=BOREAS" rel="nofollow">Boreas</a> (the North Wind) and <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=OREITHYIA" rel="nofollow">Oreithya</a> (the Mountain Winds). The species name, <i>intapurpruea</i>, is a combination of the Latin <i>inter</i> (within) and <i>purpura</i> (a purple dye)¹. This undoubtedly refers to the purple markings on the interior. I found nothing definitive about the common name. As summarized at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady-in-waiting" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a>, a Lady-in-waiting is: <blockquote>...a female personal assistant at a noble court, attending to a queen, a princess or other noblewoman. A lady-in-waiting is often a noblewoman of lower rank (i.e., a lesser noble) than the one she attends to, and is not considered a servant. Their duties varied from court to court. </blockquote> Since this animal is in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veneridae" rel="nofollow">Veneridae</a> family, which owes its name to the Greek goddess <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_(mythology)" rel="nofollow">Venus</a>, perhaps it is a suggestion that this Chionid clams is of lower rank than the true <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_(genus)" rel="nofollow"><i>Venus spp.</i></a> That's my best guess. ¹<small>Perry, Louise M., and Jeanne S. Schwengel. Marine Shells of the Western Coast of Florida. Ithaca: Palenontolgical Research Institution (NY), 1955. pp. 73.</small> I did a little more research on the name of this animal. This clams is in the genus Chione. In Greek mythology, Chione was a snow nymph, daughter of Boreas (the North Wind) and Oreithya (the Mountain Winds). The species name, intapurpruea, is a combination of the Latin inter (within) and purpura (a purple dye)¹. This undoubtedly refers to the purple markings on the interior.

I found nothing definitive about the common name. As summarized at Wikipedia, a Lady-in-waiting is:

…a female personal assistant at a noble court, attending to a queen, a princess or other noblewoman. A lady-in-waiting is often a noblewoman of lower rank (i.e., a lesser noble) than the one she attends to, and is not considered a servant. Their duties varied from court to court.

Since this animal is in the Veneridae family, which owes its name to the Greek goddess Venus, perhaps it is a suggestion that this Chionid clams is of lower rank than the true Venus spp. That’s my best guess.

¹Perry, Louise M., and Jeanne S. Schwengel. Marine Shells of the Western Coast of Florida. Ithaca: Palenontolgical Research Institution (NY), 1955. pp. 73.

]]> By: Jason http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/2008/08/04/what-the-shell-7-lady-in-waiting-venus/#comment-60559 Jason Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:30:49 +0000 http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/?p=527#comment-60559 Kevin: Good question. This shell is easily confused with the even more common <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chione_cancellata" rel="nofollow">cross-barred venus</a>. But the common name's origin will have to wait until I can make it up to the lab's library for some research. Kevin: Good question. This shell is easily confused with the even more common cross-barred venus. But the common name’s origin will have to wait until I can make it up to the lab’s library for some research.

]]> By: kevin z http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/2008/08/04/what-the-shell-7-lady-in-waiting-venus/#comment-60558 kevin z Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:19:22 +0000 http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/?p=527#comment-60558 Do you know the history behind why it is called "lady-in-waiting"? Do you know the history behind why it is called “lady-in-waiting”?

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