Genus names of Greek origin

General remarks

Genus names whose last component is an Ancient Greek noun (or Ancient Greek adjective treated like a noun) obtain their gender from the gender of that noun [Rule 65 (1), Rule 65 (2)]. A list of genus names formed in that manner is provided below, together with the gender of the terminal Ancient Greek noun. For instance, it should be noted that nouns of Greek origin ending in -ma are neuter and declined according to the third declension while Latin nouns ending in -a are usually feminine and belong to the first declension.

Names with Ancient Greek components in other positions are not listed here. The list neither includes names whose last component is a Neolatin word that was strongly modified compared to the original Ancient Greek word from which it was derived, particularly if this modification affected the gender. (Thus bacter, which is masculine, and bacterium, which is neuter, are not listed.) The list includes names with minor modifications, which are shown in parentheses after the Ancient Greek original. See also the LPSN introductory page on forming names.

aktis (actis) — ἀκτίς

Gender: feminine

Examples: Ainactis — Chalaractis — Dasyactis — "Euactis" — Heteractis — Hormactis — Inactis — "Inactis" — Isactis — Limnactis — "Physactis"

allâs (allas) — ἀλλᾶς

Gender: masculine

Examples: Desulfallas

amnion — ἀμνίον

Gender: neuter

Examples: Hormothamnion

angeîon (angium) — ἀγγεῖον

Gender: neuter

Examples: Actinosporangium — Amorphosporangium — Archangium — "Asiosporangium" — "Astrosporangium" — Cryptosporangium — Dactylosporangium — Elytrosporangium — Haliangium — "Haploangium" — "Haploangium" — Hyalangium — Intrasporangium — Kibdelosporangium — Melittangium — Planosporangium — [Podangium] — Polyangium — Pseudosporangium — Sinosporangium — Sorangium — Sphaerisporangium corrig. — Streptosporangium — Virgisporangium corrig. — Vitiosangium

anthos — ἄνθος

Gender: neuter

Examples: Desmanthos

atelês — ἀτελής

Gender: masculine or feminine

Examples: Roseateles

baktron (bactron) — βάκτρον

Gender: neuter

Examples: Geitleribactron

baktron (bactrum) — βάκτρον

Gender: neuter

Examples: "Colobactrum" — Kineobactrum — Marinibactrum — Ochrobactrum

baktron — βάκτρον

Gender: neuter

Examples: Myxobaktron

bios (bius) — βίος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Aestuariibius — Branchiibius — Caenibius — Caldanaerobius — Conchiformibius corrig. — Fodinibius — Haloarchaeobius — Maribius — Methylohalobius — Natranaerobius — Natrarchaeobius — Natronolimnobius — Pelagibius — Salinibius — "Solibius" — Thalassobius — "Candidatus Thiobius" corrig.

bios — βίος

Gender: masculine

Examples: "Candidatus Thiobios"

blastos (blastus) — βλαστός

Gender: masculine

Examples: Chthonoblastus — Mariniblastus — Rhodoblastus

boros (borus) — βορός

Gender: masculine

Examples: Prolinoborus — Proteiniborus

botrys — βότρυς

Gender: masculine

Examples: Cyanobotrys

chaitê (chaeta) — χαίτη

Gender: feminine

Examples: Pleomorphochaeta — Sphaerochaeta — Spirochaeta — Thiospirochaeta

chaitê (chaete) — χαίτη

Gender: feminine

Examples: Calochaete — Gloeochaete — Leptochaete — "Leptochaete" — Macrochaete — Microchaete — Phormidiochaete — [Spirochaete] — Thiochaete

chlamys — χλαμύς

Gender: feminine

Examples: Gloeochlamys

chlôris (chloris) — χλωρίς

Gender: feminine

Examples: Acaryochloris — Ancalochloris — Blastochloris — Coccochloris — Oscillochloris — Prosthecochloris

chlôron (chloron) — χλωρόν

Gender: neuter

Examples: Prochloron — Prochloron

dapis — δάπις

Gender: feminine

Examples: Dapis

derma — δέρμα

Gender: neuter

Examples: Bactoderma — Cyanoderma — "Mycoderma" — Myxoderma — Phylloderma — Rhabdoderma — Siphoderma

desmis — δεσμίς

Gender: feminine

Examples: Leptodesmis — Phormidesmis

diktyon (dictyon) — δίκτυον

Gender: neuter

Examples: Cyanodictyon — Pelodictyon — Schizodictyon — Sphaerodictyon — Thiodictyon

eryma — ἔρυμα

Gender: neuter

Examples: "Tropheryma" — "Tropheryma"

genikos (genicus) — γενικός

Gender: masculine

Examples: "Candidatus Methanohydrogenicus"

gloia (gloea) — γλοία

Gender: feminine

Examples: Chalicogloea — Chlorogloea — Chondrogloea — "Dactylogloea" — Dasygloea — Dermogloea — "Palmogloea" — Rhabdogloea — "Candidatus Troglogloea" — Zoogloea

helix — ἕλιξ

Gender: feminine

Examples: "Didymohelix" — [Nitrohelix]

herpeton — ἑρπετόν

Gender: neuter

Examples: Chloroherpeton

hormos (ormus) — ὅρμος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Trichormus

ichthya — ἰχθύα

Gender: feminine

Examples: Sporichthya

ilys (ilus) — ἰλύς

Gender: feminine

Examples: [Lactomassilus] — "Candidatus Methyloumidiphilus" — "Candidatus Methylumidiphilus" corrig. — Muriiphilus — "Terrahaemophilus"

kapsis (capsis) — κάψις

Gender: feminine

Examples: Eucapsis

kladion (cladium) — κλάδιον

Gender: neuter

Examples: Thermocladium

klados (cladus) — κλάδος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Mastigocladus — Pelatocladus

klôstêr (closter) — κλωστήρ

Gender: masculine

Examples: Cyanocloster — Enterocloster

koleon (coleum) — κολεόν

Gender: neuter

Examples: Hydrocoleum — Sirocoleum

korynê (coryne) — κορύνη

Gender: feminine

Examples: Hydrocoryne

korys (corys) — κόρυς

Gender: feminine

Examples: Myxacorys — "Myxocorys"

kosmikos (cosmicus) — κοσμικός

Gender: masculine

Examples: "Candidatus Nitrosocosmicus" — "Candidatus Nitrosocosmicus"

ktonos (kthonos) — κτόνος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Aetokthonos

kystis (cystis) — κύστις

Gender: feminine

Examples: Anacystis — Chondrocystis — "Chroogloeocystis" — Clathrocystis — Coelocystis — Cyanocystis — Diplocystis — Geminocystis — [Ichthyocystis] — Isocystis — Lamprocystis — Methylocystis — Microcystis — "Microcystis" — "Microcystis" — Minicystis — Nannocystis — [Nitrosocystis] — Phaselicystis — Plesiocystis — Polycystis — Racemicystis — Radiocystis — [Rhodocystis] — Synechocystis — Thaumaleocystis — Thiocystis — Trichocystis

lemma — λέμμα

Gender: neuter

Examples: Chroakolemma

liparos — λιπαρός

Gender: masculine

Examples: Segniliparus

Melia — Μελία

Gender: feminine

Examples: Pilimelia

mênê (mene) — μήνη

Gender: feminine

Examples: Katagnymene

mênê (menon) — μήνη

Gender: feminine

Examples: Aphanizomenon

mitos — μίτος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Stenomitos

moron — μόρον

Gender: neuter

Examples: Coelomoron

mykês (myces) — μύκης

Gender: masculine

Examples: Actinomyces — Agromyces — "Anulomyces" — "Borrelomyces" — Chondromyces — [Discomyces] — Glycomyces — Haloactinomyces — [Malleomyces] — Mechercharimyces — Melghirimyces — [Micromyces] — [Murimyces] — [Musculomyces] — Mzabimyces — "Odontomyces" — Paenactinomyces — "Parastreptomyces" — Planctomyces — Polycladomyces — "Proactinomyces" — "Sapromyces" — Streptomyces — Tenggerimyces — Thermasporomyces — Thermoactinomyces

myxa — μύξα

Gender: feminine

Examples: Enhygromyxa — Lithomyxa — [Phytomyxa]

Naias (naias) — Ναϊάς

Gender: feminine

Examples: Spelaeonaias

nêma (nema) — νῆμα

Gender: neuter

Examples: Acetonema — Achroonema — Actinosynnema — Aerosakkonema — Alkalinema — "Candidatus Allospironema" corrig. — Amazoninema — Anagnostidinema — Arthronema — "Arthronema" — Baaleninema — Bacterionema — Boanema — Brachynema — Brasilonema — Brevinema — Calenema — Callonema — Camptylonema — Campylonema corrig. — Chamaenema — Chloronema — Coleonema — Colteronema — Desmonema — Desulfonema — Diplonema — "Candidatus Electronema" — Eleutheronema — Endonema — Euryhalinema — Geitlerinema — "Gloionema" — Halomicronema — Herpyzonema — Hormathonema — Iningainema — Jaaginema — Johanseninema — Kamptonema — Klisinema — Koinonema — "Lagosinema" — Laspinema — Leptonema — Letestuinema — Lithonema — "Longinema" — Marininema — Mastichonema — Mastigonema — Meganema — Monilinema — "Myrionema" — Natrinema — Neomegalonema — Onkonema — Oxynema — Pantanalinema — Paraplectonema — Pelonema — Persinema — Petalonema — "Phragmonema" — Phyllonema — Plaxonema — Plectonema — Pseudoscytonema — Pycnacronema — Rectinema — Rhizonema — Sacconema — Salininema — Scopulonema — Scytonema — Siphononema — Sodalinema — "Candidatus Sphaeronema" — "Candidatus Spironema" — Stauromatonema — Stigonema — Symphyonema — "Termitinema" — Thermonema — "Thionema" — Treponema — Tryponema — Tychonema

nephros (nephron) — νεφρός

Gender: masculine

Examples: Cyanonephron

opsis — ὄψις

Gender: feminine

Examples: Allocoleopsis — Amycolatopsis — Anabaenopsis — Brachytrichiopsis — Camptylonemopsis — Chamaesiphonopsis — Chlorogloeopsis — Chroococcidiopsis — Chroococcopsis — Coelosphaeriopsis — "Coleospermopsis" — Cylindrospermopsis — [Dactylococcopsis] — Echeverriopsis — "Candidatus Endobryopsis" — Fischerellopsis — Gloeocapsopsis — Hapalopsis — Kirchneriellopsis — Loriellopsis — Lyngbyopsis — Mastigocladopsis — Mastigocoleopsis — Mycoplasmopsis — Nocardiopsis — Nostochopsis — Raphidiopsis — Rivulariopsis — Scytonematopsis — Sphaerospermopsis — Spirillopsis — Spirulinopsis — Symphyonemopsis — "Thiospirillopsis" — "Tolypothrichopsis" — Toxopsis — Westiellopsis

ousia — οὐσία

Gender: feminine

Examples: Kryptousia

pelagos — πέλαγος

Gender: neuter

Examples: "Candidatus Micropelagos"

peltê (pelta) — πέλτη

Gender: feminine

Examples: Skujapelta

pepsis — πέψις

Gender: feminine

Examples: Micropepsis

phagos (phagus) — φάγος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Algoriphagus — Oxalophagus — Saccharophagus — Saliphagus — Thermophagus

phanon — φανόν

Gender: neuter

Examples: Caryophanon — Cyanophanon

phasêlos (phaselus) — φάσηλος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Ferriphaselus

phonos (phonus) — φόνος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Arsenophonus

phŷkos (phycus) — φῦκος

Gender: neuter

Examples: Ophiophycus

physalis — φυσαλίς

Gender: feminine

Examples: Entophysalis

phŷsa (physa) — φῦσα

Gender: feminine

Examples: "Candidatus Thiophysa"

planês (planes) — πλάνης

Gender: masculine

Examples: Actinoplanes — Bacterioplanes — Catenuloplanes — Couchioplanes — Desulfoplanes — Rhodoplanes — Spirilliplanes

plasma — πλάσμα

Gender: neuter

Examples: Acholeplasma — Acidiplasma — "Candidatus Allocryptoplasma" corrig. — Anaeroplasma — Anaplasma — Asteroleplasma — "Candidatus Bacilliplasma" corrig. — "Candidatus Bacilloplasma" — "Candidatus Cryptoplasma" — Cuniculiplasma — "Edwardiiplasma" — Entomoplasma — Ferroplasma — Haloplasma — "Candidatus Hepatoplasma" — "Candidatus Lunaplasma" — Malacoplasma — "Candidatus Medusoplasma" — Mesoplasma — "Candidatus Methanoplasma" — "Candidatus Moeniiplasma" — Mycoplasma — "Paranaplasma" — "Candidatus Phytoplasma" — "Pluraplasma" — [Schizoplasma] — Spiroplasma — Thermoplasma — "Tullyiplasma" — Ureaplasma — "Candidatus Vermiplasma" — Williamsoniiplasma — "Xianfuyuplasma"

plokê (ploca) — πλοκή

Gender: feminine

Examples: "Candidatus Chloroploca" — Peloploca — Rhodoploca — Symploca — Thioploca

pôgôn (pogon) — πώγων

Gender: masculine

Examples: Leptopogon — Pseudospelaeopogon — Spelaeopogon

pontia — πόντια

Gender: feminine

Examples: "Thiopontia"

pygê (pyga) — πυγή

Gender: feminine

Examples: Kallipyga

pŷr (pyrum) — πῦρ

Gender: neuter

Examples: Aeropyrum

pyxis — πυξίς

Gender: feminine

Examples: Sphingopyxis

rhabdion (rhabdium) — ῥαβδίον

Gender: neuter

Examples: Desulfatirhabdium

rhabdos (rhabdus) — ῥάβδος

Gender: feminine

Examples: Aestuariirhabdus — Anaerorhabdus — Aquirhabdus — Brevirhabdus — Desulforhabdus — Dissulfurirhabdus — Edaphorhabdus — Enterorhabdus — Flavirhabdus — Halorhabdus — Intestinirhabdus — Longirhabdus — Marinirhabdus — Methylorhabdus — Oceanirhabdus — Paludirhabdus — Pelagirhabdus — "Pelorhabdus" — Persicirhabdus — Photorhabdus — Pontirhabdus — Rhizorhabdus — Salirhabdus — Sandarakinorhabdus — Sphingorhabdus — Sulfurirhabdus — Syntrophorhabdus — Tellurirhabdus — Thalassorhabdus — "Thalassorhabdus" — Thermodesulforhabdus — Thiohalorhabdus — Thiomicrorhabdus — Xenorhabdus

rhaphis (raphis) — ῥαφίς

Gender: feminine

Examples: Limnoraphis

rhapis — ῥαπίς

Gender: feminine

Examples: Rhizorhapis

seira — σειρά

Gender: neuter

Examples: Microseira

seira (sira) — σειρά

Gender: neuter

Examples: Aulosira — Capsosira — "Chamaesiphonosira" — Spermosira

siphôn (siphon) — σίφων

Gender: masculine

Examples: [Anthektikosiphon] — Arthrosiphon — Bacillosiphon — Chamaesiphon — Cirrosiphon — Desmosiphon — Drilosiphon — Hapalosiphon — Herpetosiphon — Hormosiphon — Porphyrosiphon — Potamosiphon — Schizosiphon — Sirosiphon — "Sirosiphon" — Sphaenosiphon — Sphinctosiphon — Stichosiphon — Symphyosiphon — "Thiosiphon"

skêptron (sceptrum) — σκῆπτρον

Gender: neuter

Examples: Thermanaerosceptrum corrig.

skia (scia) — σκιά

Gender: feminine

Examples: Trochiscia

sôma (soma) — σῶμα

Gender: neuter

Examples: Acidisoma — Dechlorosoma — Deferrisoma — Denitratisoma — Desulfosoma — "Candidatus Epixenosoma" — Fibrisoma — Methylosoma — Spirosoma — Sulfurisoma

speîra (spira) — σπεῖρα

Gender: feminine

Examples: Aestuariispira — Arthrospira — Aureispira — Azospira — Brachyspira — Cristispira — "Cyanospira" — Desulfonatronospira — Desulfospira — Desulfurispira — "Dissulfurispira" — "Drepanospira" — Ectothiorhodospira — "Entomospira" — Exilispira — "Flexispira" — Fluviispira — Glaucospira — Halorhodospira — "Juguspira" — Lachnospira — Leptospira — Limnospira — Magnetospira — "Candidatus Magnispira" corrig. — "Candidatus Magnospira" — "Candidatus Maribrachyspira" — "Candidatus Methylospira" — Natronospira — Nitrosospira — Nitrospira — Oleispira — Oscillospira — Propionispira — Rhodospira — Roseospira — Salinispira — Saprospira — Simplicispira — Spongiispira — Succinispira — Terasakiispira — Thalassospira — Thioalkalispira — Thiohalospira — Thiomicrospira — Thiorhodospira — Thiospira — Trichospira

sperma — σπέρμα

Gender: neuter

Examples: "Cyclosperma"

sperma (spermum) — σπέρμα

Gender: neuter

Examples: Coleospermum — "Coleospermum" — Cylindrospermum — Dolichospermum — "Dolichospermum" — Macrospermum — Sphaerospermum

sphaîra (sphaera) — σφαῖρα

Gender: feminine

Examples: Acidisphaera — Algisphaera — "Candidatus Alysiosphaera" — Anaerohalosphaera — Anaerosphaera — Aquisphaera — Aureisphaera — "Candidatus Bathosphaera" — Caldisphaera — Catenisphaera — Conexivisphaera — Crocosphaera — "Diplosphaera" — Embryosphaera — Epigloeosphaera — Geminisphaera — Glaucosphaera — [Halyseosphaera] — "Candidatus Halysiosphaera" corrig. — "Humisphaera" — Ignisphaera — Isosphaera — Kineosphaera — Lactosphaera — "Lacunisphaera" — Lentisphaera — Limisphaera — "Candidatus Limnosphaera" — Megasphaera — Metallosphaera — Methanosphaera — Methylosphaera — Microsphaera — Nitrososphaera — Oceanisphaera — Oligosphaera — Paludisphaera — [Pedosphaera] — Phycisphaera — Poriferisphaera — Psychrosphaera — Quadrisphaera — Rubinisphaera — Salinisphaera — Sedimentisphaera — Singulisphaera — Siphonosphaera — Sulfurisphaera — "Candidatus Syntrophosphaera" — Tepidisphaera — Tetrasphaera — Thermosphaera — Thiosphaera — Tundrisphaera — Zestosphaera

sphaîra (sphaeria) — σφαῖρα

Gender: feminine

Examples: Gomphosphaeria

spora — σπορά

Gender: feminine

Examples: Acrocarpospora — Actinaurispora — Actinobispora — Actinocatenispora — Actinokineospora — "Actinomonospora" — Actinomycetospora — Actinopolyspora — Actinorectispora — Actinorhabdospora — Actinorugispora — Anaerospora — Asaccharospora — Carbonactinospora — Catellatospora — Catelliglobosispora — Catenulispora — Desertactinospora corrig. — Desertiactinospora — Desmospora — Desulfitispora — Desulfonispora — Desulfurispora — Excellospora — Haloactinopolyspora — Haloactinospora — Halopolyspora — Herbidospora — Holospora — Holospora — Hydrogenispora — Kitasatospora corrig. — Ktedonospora — Lacrimispora — Longispora — Lutispora — [Macrospora] — Marinactinospora — "Marinispora" — Marinitenerispora — Microbispora — "Microechinospora" — Micromonospora — Micropolyspora — "Microstreptospora" — Microtetraspora — "Nonospora" — "Oospora" — "Parvopolyspora" — Pelospora — Phytoactinopolyspora — Phytomonospora — Planobispora — Planomonospora — Planopolyspora — Planotetraspora — Plantactinospora — Polymorphospora — Propionispora — Rugosimonospora — Saccharomonospora — Saccharopolyspora — Salinactinospora — Salinispora — "Solwaraspora" — Sorospora — Sphaerimonospora — Spinactinospora — Spirillospora — Spongiactinospora — Staphylospora — Streptimonospora — Streptomonospora corrig. — Syntrophospora — Thermoactinospora — Thermobispora — Thermocatellispora — Thermogemmatispora — Thermomonospora — Thermopolyspora — Thermostaphylospora — Verrucosispora

stegê (stega) — στέγη

Gender: feminine

Examples: Pelistega

stêmôn (stemon) — στήμων

Gender: masculine

Examples: Dapisostemon — Streptostemon

stichos (stichus) — στίχος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Rhodostichus

symbiôtês (symbiotes) — συμϐιωτής

Gender: masculine

Examples: "Candidatus Haloectosymbiotes"

thamnos — θάμνος

Gender: masculine or feminine

Examples: Cyanothamnos — Dactylothamnos

thaûma (thauma) — θαῦμα

Gender: neuter

Examples: "Candidatus Gigantothauma" corrig.

thêkê (thece) — θήκη

Gender: feminine

Examples: Anathece — Aphanothece — Chroothece — Cyanothece — Gloeothece — Halothece — Hormothece — "Rhodothece" — "Thiothece"

thermos (thermus) — θερμός

Gender: masculine

Examples: Acetothermus — "Candidatus Acetothermus" — Acidothermus — Carboxydothermus — Desulfothermus — "Candidatus Homeothermus" — Hydrogenothermus — "Candidatus Hydrothermus" — Hyperthermus — Marinithermus — Meiothermus — Methanothermus — [Methylacidithermus] — Methylothermus — "Methylothermus" — Oceanithermus — Rhabdothermus — Rhodothermus — Roseithermus — Staphylothermus — Syntrophothermus — Thermus — Vulcanithermus

tholos — θόλος

Gender: masculine or feminine

Examples: Xenotholos

thrix — θρίξ

Gender: feminine

Examples: "Acidithrix" — Amphithrix — Anabaenothrix — Ancylothrix — "Asterothrix" — Atlanticothrix — Blennothrix — "Brachythrix" — Brochothrix — Caldithrix — Calorithrix — Calothrix — Camptothrix — Cephalothrix — Chamaethrix — "Cladothrix" — "Clonothrix" — "Candidatus Combothrix" — "Conidiothrix" — Crenothrix — Cuspidothrix — Cyanothrix — Cyanothrix — Dichothrix — Dictyothrix — "Candidatus Electrothrix" — "Entothrix" — Erysipelothrix — Ferrithrix — Flexithrix — Geothrix — Glaucothrix — "Gliothrix" — Haloechinothrix — Halothermothrix — Heliothrix — Homoeothrix — Hypheothrix — "Hypheothrix" — Kineothrix — "Kouleothrix" — Kyrtuthrix — Labilithrix — Leptochromothrix — Leptothrix — Leucothrix — Limnothrix — "Candidatus Marithrix" — Methanothrix — "Candidatus Microthrix" — "Candidatus Neomicrothrix" corrig. — "Candidatus Nephrothrix" — Ophiothrix — Pegethrix — Pelagothrix — Planktothrix — Polythrix — Prochlorothrix — Proterendothrix — Rapidithrix — Saccharothrix — Salinithrix — "Candidatus Sarcinithrix" — Schizothrix — [Streptothrix] — "Candidatus Symbiothrix" — Symphyothrix — Tapinothrix — "Thermanaerothrix" — Thermosporothrix — Thermothrix — Thioflexithrix — Thiothrix — Tolypothrix — Toxothrix — "Candidatus Vecturithrix"

thrix (trichon) — θρίξ

Gender: feminine

Examples: Azomonotrichon

tîlos (tilos) — τῖλος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Sphaerotilus

toîchos (teichus) — τοῖχος

Gender: masculine

Examples: Actinoalloteichus — Streptoalloteichus

trophos — τροφός

Gender: masculine or feminine

Examples: Rhodoligotrophos

trophos (tropha) — τροφός

Gender: masculine or feminine

Examples: Oligotropha — Thermosyntropha — "Candidatus Thiodiazotropha"

zôon — ζῷον

Gender: neuter

Examples: Eperythrozoon