>>Since when is there an officially accepted "common name?" I



Ummm, for decades. There are "officially recognized and adopted" common and scientific names published by "the committee on standard English and scientific names." I believe B. I. Crother chaired the group for their last publication for reptiles and amphibians of North American north of Mexico. I'm really surprised you aren't aware such a committee exists and determines the SOLE official name.



>>Besides, what difference does it make if a species or subspecies has more than one common name, as long as readers know what you're talking about?



I actually am shocked to read this. I am surprised this idea can still exist post-1950. Heck, Linnaeus started the binomial system of classification, in part, to avoid the confusion of differing common names. Common names later became standardized (scientifically - hobbyists still try to throw a wrench in the mechanisms too often) to further avoid the errors in miscommunication. NOW, I'm hearing the idea that the errors are unimportant or nonexistent???? I must have misunderstood what you were getting to, because I can't believe I'm interpreting that statement correctly.

KJ
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KJUN Snakehaven

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