A few words on scientific names

[bshmerlie]

"Rainman"

[Kurt]

Rainman? Homo sapiens hydrocephalus. LOL

[DonLisk]

Wow, Kurt, is the Massachusetts Expo as busy as the one this past weekend was? I probably should have showed up later as things probably slowed down some and getting to tables may not have been so hectic.

[Kurt]

Or get there really early.

[DogRetepCow]

I have to say, as a new member to this forum and a person new to frogs, it can be a little.....frustrating having to constantly look up these scientific names people refer to, in order to figure out what animal they're talking about. Why not just say, "Budgett frog, tomato frog, barking tree frog", etc. It seems much easier. I'll look up a scientific name and be like, "Oh, it's a waxy monkey leaf frog... Why didn't they just say that?" I haven't quite got used to it yet. Props though to the people here who have all these scientific names and spellings memorized, and know which names go to which frog. Even if I think that's a little bit crazy

[Baelari]

Because common names can be vague. I think there's two types of Waxy monkey tree frogs, for example (I could be mistaken). And some animals have more than one common name.

[clownonfire]

And let's be blunt... their scientific names give much more details than common name... You'll have the genus and the species in the latin name... which is helpful and already tells you a great deal about the frog.

And as previously said, a frog can have too many names. For example, a Scaphiophryne gottlebei can be a Malagasy Rainbow Frog, Ornate Hopper, Rainbow Burrowing Frog, Red Rain Frog, Gottlebe's Narrow-mouthed Frog...

[ViperJr]

What Eric and Baelari said it both true!

And also, think about this.
You live in England and you have a friend who want's to send you a "Blacksnake". You think it's the harmless Black racer from USA, but instead you recive a deadly Blacksnake from Australia! Not so fancy!

Common names are extremly good to create uncertainty and confusion when talking to people across the world. With the scientific names, you always know for sure. If you are only talking to people within you area, then sure, it might be somewhat less needed.
On top of this, some species not does have a common name in every language.

[Faith]

I have to admit, I didn't know this Thanks for the post and info!