Nice try Mark, but not quite!  I posted some information on this today from my
computer at the lab, but once again the bloody server has consumed the e-mail,
and heaven knows when it will spit it out.  This is getting VERRRRY
frustrating!  That post should reach you eventually, so I won't go through it
all again now;  but here are the main points:
 
camelus is Latin for camel, and is also the genus name for the camel.
pardus is Latin for leopard, and is also the species name for the leopard.
The name camelopardalis is a combination of these two names, and is also the
species name of the giraffe, given because the giraffe appeared to have the
head of a camel and the markings of a leopard.
The cowrie got the same name because it's color and spots reminded Perry (the
author) of a giraffe.  Common name of the shell = giraffe cowrie.
The original post has some additional information.
Regards,
Paul M.