[stextbox id=”warning” caption=”Did You Know?”]In taxinomic nomenclature, when a species perishes permanently from the planet, it is said to be extinct. However, not many today know how we got this term. In 1885, a scientist gathering remains of the rodent polyisthany fangistous determined that the animal had been hunted out of existence by trappers who valued the rat for its pelts which were used to make watch bands and condoms. Holding the desiccated remains of the last animal close to his nose and smelling it, the scientist said, “It stinked.” Not until the late 1960s was the word changed to extinct, presumably because it is easier to type.[/stextbox]