Latin names

[ron1863]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

Nicely explained Jason.

I started naming my new photo's with Latin & Common Name (where pos.), a few months ago
e.g. Melolontha melolontha_Cockchafer_0001.CR2
Anthomyiidae sp_Muscid Fly_0003.CR2

And have re-named all the previous photo's I'd taken, this way.

I find that this helps, like you say, for those critters that have no common name or several common names and it also educates me.

Ditto Ben.........and a tedious job it is too

[ChrisR]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

Anthomyiidae sp_Muscid Fly_0003.CR2

Just a small correction ... when dipterists refer to a 'muscid' it means that it belongs to the family Muscidae ... an 'anthomyiid' belongs to the family Anthomyiidae ... so your file name is contradictory

[Jason Green]

...Uh-oh, that's Ben now having to go back and re-name all his photos!!

[rangersarah2]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

...Uh-oh, that's Ben now having to go back and re-name all his photos!!

Poor Ben.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by ChrisR

Just a small correction ... when dipterists refer to a 'muscid' it means that it belongs to the family Muscidae ... an 'anthomyiid' belongs to the family Anthomyiidae ... so your file name is contradictory

Groan and a very long sigh. 'tis back to the drawing board then.

Ah well, C'est la vie.

[rangersarah2]

Just want to say thanks to you all. Have been researching gall wasps and other insects today and everything that you have all told me clicked, and the SCIENTIFIC names didn't faze me and I was able to be a lot more accurate in the ids.

You're brill.

[Jason Green]

Glad to hear it, Sarah!

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by snowdrop

I've got a lazy brain where the high-faluting names for wildlife. Give me Busy Lizzie, Snapdragon, eagle, kestrel, robin, frog, rat, cat, dog.....any day.

Which eagle, which robin, which rat, which frog? Only the Linnean, Latin names are exclusive - common names refer to more than one species, and are very local and, generally, pretty useless ....

[Ferret]

I agree Paul, I mean you only have to say Bulrush and everybody knows you mean Scirpus lacustris don't they?

All joking apart I think the its best to try and use both, if I am at say looking at the plant threads WAB where my knowledge is sadly lacking the common name is more likely to give my a rough idea of what is being talked about while the Latin will allow me to be totally certain I am looking at the correct plant in my reference books.

Ferret