I have a question regarding confusion between scientific names and common names. Bothrops atrox and Bothrops asper and the common names Terciopelo and Fer-de-Lance have been mixed up. Does terciopelo refer to asper or atrox or both? While in La Selva, terciopelo and fer-de-lance were used to refer to asper, but i have also seen it as a reference to atrox here in the states. could someone please set me straight?
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Bothrops question
venom_2
Apr 27, 2005 07:29 PM
Replies (1)
WW
Apr 28, 2005 03:24 AM
>>I have a question regarding confusion between scientific names and common names. Bothrops atrox and Bothrops asper and the common names Terciopelo and Fer-de-Lance have been mixed up. Does terciopelo refer to asper or atrox or both? While in La Selva, terciopelo and fer-de-lance were used to refer to asper, but i have also seen it as a reference to atrox here in the states. could someone please set me straight?
The real lesson is: learn the scientific names, forget common names.
Terciopelo is normally the term used for Bothrops asper in parts of Central America, especially Costa Rica.
Fer-de-lance has been used for Bothrops asper, Bothrops atrox etc. Those who take an interest in contrived vernacular names would argue that it's use should be restricted to the Martinican Bothrops lanceolatus, and that Bothrops asper should always be called the terciopelo. Bothrops atrox... - the standardisers call it "common lancehead", others call it by a million different names - take your pick.
Cheers,
WW
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