The Spectacled Bear is the only surviving member of the Tremarctinae. What is the etymology of the genus name Tremarctos, or to put it another way, how would 'Tremarctos' be translated into English?
Just so we're all starting on the same page: arctos means bear. I don't think the trem- is from tremein, to shiver or shake, and the root for words like tremndous and tremble. First, I don't think the prefix would properly be trem-, but rather tremen-. Second, the Spectacled Bear is not a good candidate for a name that means "frightening bear" since it is small and docile.
It may be helpful to know that the same trem- prefix appears in the classification tremoctopus of the blanket octopus. I don't see a point of similarity between the two species, personally.
Anyone with enough actual knowledge to give a definitive answer? Educated guesses are unlikely to take me farther than I can go by myself, I fear; "shivering bear" seems unlikely, and I think actual knowledge will be needed to arrive at a satisfying resolution of the question.
Welcome on AP xaosdog. Interesting question and I hope someone will be able to help you. Your question should have been posted in the "Zoology" forum though (look in science). The author of a trivia has to know the answer of his (her) question.
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Ah... I should have cast a more thorough eye over the forum rules.
Clearly, I don't know the answer -- I'm looking for it! All the other bear names are easily parsable, and some are interesting. This one looks interesting, but the fact that I can't parse it is nagging at me somethin fierce.
Here's the answer though its Wikied Need confirmation
quote:
Tremarctine, or short-faced, bears, including the extinct giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simius). The last remaining member of the group is the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) of South America.
