Posted by:
ratsnakehaven
at Fri Oct 19 07:46:24 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by ratsnakehaven ]
Me...>>>>Since when is there an officially accepted "common name?" I
>>
KJ...>>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.
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Me...The subspecies, meahllmorum, has only existed since 1994 (Smith et al.) Since then I've only read a couple papers including this subspecies. I didn't know the name, "Southwestern Ratsnake", was made official. I didn't even know the subspecies was fully accepted, yet. I'm not an academic, ya know, like I assume you are. I suppose it's big-headed of me to think I had a more descriptive name.
ME...>>>>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?
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KJ...>>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
ME...You said, "Linnaeus started the binomial system of classification, in part, to avoid the confusion of differing common names." That's right. That's why we have the scientific names, to avoid confusion. How many would have misunderstood, if I had used Southwestern Ratsnake, and not used the scientific name? Heck, even the scientific name is confusing, since some are using Pantherophis or Elaphe, for genus, and some are using emoryi or guttatus for species, and many still don't believe meahllmorum is a subspecies. The whole thing is whacky!
KJ, I didn't say errors were unimportant. I just didn't think your term, Southwestern Ratsnake, was well accepted, or official. I guess many of us are now getting an education on terminology. Would you mind pointing me in the right direction for finding the "officially adopted common names?" Hopefully, it is on the web somewhere, as that would be much more accessible to most hobbyists.
Thanks for the heads-up. 
- TC
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RE: Bogus name - ratsnakehaven, Fri Oct 19 07:46:24 2007