What's with the names?

[Nova 8]

Yeah Im against it aswell, just think of how many Scientific names you know now, wait scrape that and start again, screw that. If you found a new fish you'd want to be able to name it whatever you want, and why not you discovered it. Comman names discribe the fish (ie silverdollar,red devil, Discus) Imagine if these were scientific names aswell, also who deciedes what the fish acts like? Your fish may be a stripedhumpheadus agressionmaxus but for me it could be a stripedhumpheadus cowardnus, who deciedes how the fish acts? ever fish is different.

 

[CTU2fan]

I don't mind the scientific names being the discoverer's name. Agreed though about the common names, and the problem is you can't have standard common names because they'll be different in each language. When I started getting back into the hobby I read all about jags and had no idea what they were, until I finally saw a pic and I was like, "oh yeah, managuense".

So what's a red parrot? Hybridius stupidus? But then we'd confuse it with flowerhorns and yorkie-poos.

 

[ewurm]

We could at least catalog each fish with a number which would easily identify it.

I'll start now. Etheostoma Exile Iowa Darter 1.....Corydoras Wurmeri Wurm's Corydoras 2....LOL

 

[carolinafishkeeper]

If its your discovery you can name it what you want...

 

[TicaL]

If its your discovery you can name it what you want...

Then how come there's not any animals or fish with funny names? I can't let myself believe only scientists without senses of humors make these discoveries. They should reclassify bichirs with a better name with one that has to do with their similarities to dragons because that's what they look like. Everytime I have to say bichir more people assume I'm talking about a biker than a fish.

 

[BIGgourami]

yeah but imagine the cataloge numbers going into the tens of thousands!
there are 3,000 types of goby ALONE!
sci names are no problem, at least they are specific. but saying like blue lake fish, it's like, WTF mate?

 

[dovii88]

I think a fishes name must some how describe it. Like Trailerparkus abortionus, a fish that eats it's young. LOL

Hahahahha wicked funny but sadly true...most fish scientific names dont describe them...ewurm im down to start a revolution with u...

 

[carolinafishkeeper]

Then how come there's not any animals or fish with funny names? I can't let myself believe only scientists without senses of humors make these discoveries. They should reclassify bichirs with a better name with one that has to do with their similarities to dragons because that's what they look like. Everytime I have to say bichir more people assume I'm talking about a biker than a fish.

Not really knowledgeable on the subject but i thaught scientific names were based on genes, class, phyllum or something to that extent. but if i discovered a "new" parachromis species, i can call it whatever i want as a common name. As a matter of fact scientificly can't i call it "parachromis fishkeeper" just n example. Please clarify if im mistaken

 

[ssmith]

People do not name new species after themselves! This isn't to say it hasn't happened, but I don't know of anyone in recent history that has. New species are named after other people quite often, take Hubbs for example, google 'hubbsi' and you will get tons of fish with that specific epithet. This doesnt mean carl hubbs named all of these fish after himself, but rather it was named in his honor. People also name new species after someone in their family, which in turn might end up being their name as well.

There are some 'rules' to follow, however they are more like guidelines. Check out this website: http://www.iczn.org/

 

[Jesse]

Then how come there's not any animals or fish with funny names?

Not true. I'm not the original author, but I posted this info in another forum:

Humorous scientific names for animal are not unknown, science geeks often cannot resist having a bit of fun. Here are some other examples:

Abra cadabra (Eames & Wilkins) 1957 (a clam)

Aegrotocatellus Adrian and Edgecombe, 1995 (trilobite) Latin for "sick puppy".

Ba humbugi, a snail from Fiji.

Bobkabata kabatabobbus Hogans & Benz, 1990 (parasitic copepod)

Named after parasitologist Bob Kabata.

Corydoras narcissus Nijssen & Isbrucker, 1980 (catfish) Named "narcissus" because the discoverers insisted that the describer name the fish after them.

Galaxias gollumoides (fresh-water fish) Named after Gollum because it has large eyes and was found in a swamp.

Ittibittium, a genus of mollusks that are smaller than those named Bittium.

Mackenziurus johnnyi, M. joeyi, M. deedeei, M. ceejayi Adrian and Edgecombe, 1997 (trilobites) As any one who went to high school in the 1970’s can tell you, they are named after members of the punk rock group, the Ramones.

Polypterus mokelembembe Schafer and Schliewen 2006 Named for the cryptozoological Congolese dinosaur-like creature Mokele-mbembe

Ptomaspis, Dikenaspis, Ariaspis (Devonian armored jawless fish) Remove the suffix “-aspis” to see the joke.

Source: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/4/fish