Who/What is Harlequin?

[Weaver]

I understand this is less about aquariums and more about marine biology in general, but this is my best source. I have realized that several marine species are named after "Harlequin" (Harlequin Tusk, Harlequin Shrimp, Harlequin Rasbora, etc). I tried looking him up, and found nothing about the person, but that there is also a Harlequin Duck... Can anyone help clarify where the name "Harlequin" comes from? Thank you.

 

[HN1]

This? Harlequin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Alyxx]

The Joker's girlfriend. Oh wait, that's Harley Quinn... Hehe, j/k HN1 is right on, it's a stock character from Italian theatre. They're mostly called harlequin because of their patterning and coloration!

 

[RedFlame]

The Joker's girlfriend. Oh wait, that's Harley Quinn... Hehe, j/k HN1 is right on, it's a stock character from Italian theatre. They're mostly called harlequin because of their patterning and coloration!

I love the lame yet clever joke.

 

[cheeky_monkey]

Here I was thinking it was after the colour?

 

[Alyxx]

Here I was thinking it was after the colour?

It is, the harlequin in Commedia del Arte wore what we think of now as a jester's costume. Patchwork of different colors. I'm a theatre dork as well as a fish dork, haha!

 

[Weaver]

Okay, thank you all for helping me out with that, I got confused after seeing so many different critters (marine and not) named "Harlequin".