David Anderson has made the case well for "common name" taxonomy,
which is just as standardized as the binomial (or trinomial) epithet
for a growing number of disciplines. Many entomologists,
herpetologists, and other specialists are following the lead of
ornithologists who long ago standardized common names and had good
reasons for capitalizing them.
To extend David's examples, there are lots of green frogs in North
America, but only one Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans melanotus). Any
non-scientific style dictionary that claims a "green frog" equals
"Green Frog" implies it knows more about amphibian nomenclature than
professional herpetologists and ought to be viewed with suspicion.
What really rubs me the wrong way is that the Associated Press ignores
all scientific convention in refusing to italicize genus/species
epithets and often follows no capitalization standard at all. It's not
"homo sapiens."
And don't even get me started on "Canadian geese."
Cheers
BILL
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On Oct 5, 2009, at 1:13 PM, David Anderson wrote:
It is important to separate vernacular names from professionally
designated common names assigned to species. The American
Ornithologists' Union is the authority that names birds in North
America, and names of birds are capitalized: Chipping Sparrow,
Lovely Cotinga. These names are associated with taxonomic binomials
consistent with the recognized status of species. A chipping
sparrow is any sparrow seen chipping. A Chipping Sparrow refers to
Spizella passerina. All cotingas are lovely indeed, but only Lovely
Cotinga refers to Cotinga amabilis. Birds have many common names.
A "hoot owl" means nothing in particular. A "rain crow" is a Common
Nighthawk. When popular magazines, e.g., National Geographic,
Audubon, incorrectly refer to chipping sparrows and lovely cotingas
they are ignoring the scientific authority and tradition that
separates vernacular from science, and in so doing they blur the
boundary between common and scientific observations and knowledge.
David L. Anderson
Ph.D. Candidate
Museum of Natural Science
Louisiana State University
225-578-5393
[email protected]
http://www.museum.lsu.edu/Anderson/index.htm
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c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
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Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net):
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