Scientific Names Are All Wrong

When I first got pretty serious about snakes, which was when I was around 11, I had my first exposure to scientific names.  It wasn't enough to identify a Texas Ratsnake, I wanted to know the proper name, the scientific name.  At the time, that was Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri.  And I learned that the many water snakes that bit the daylights out of me each time I caught one, were Natrix rhombifera and Natrix ethrogaster.  The little Red-Eared Sliders that I caught and some I bought at the 5 and dime, were Pseudemys scripta elegans.  

In my considerable years of absence from the scientific world and especially that of Taxonomy, things sure changed.  Our local ratsnakes went from Elaphe to Pantherophis; watersnakes - Natrix to Nerodia; sliders - Pseudoemys went to Trachemys; and there were many other changes.  Of course, this is a natural occurence in biology.  

Specimen are examined and classified as belonging to a certain genus. Sometimes, if there were no similar genus, one was created for them.  (I am ignoring species designations here which work in a similar fashion).  

With snakes this was determined by many factors that might have included scale counts, scale characteristics, physical shape of body parts, other physical characteristics including examination of internal features.  In time, it might have been determined that the original classification was not correct.  While the specimen may have had many characteristics of the originally assigned genus, there were enough differences to make it its own genus or it might be determined that it belongs to an entirely different genus.  There are always changes in Taxonomy as more and more information becomes available.  

Of course, things really accelerated in this field starting in the late 60's with electrophoresis and examination of gene frequency.  (Leading to DNA tests which we all are familar with now).  With that tool, Taxonomy moved to a whole new level.  No longer were scientist looking at mere physical evidence, they were able to look directly at the genetic makeup of the animals.  Relationships between genera, species, etc were easily determined.  Major changes have been made and continue to take place.  It is an exciting field with implications throughout almost all fields of study in biology.

 All this is fine and dandy except for one thing.  All those hours of studying Conant, Stebbins, and Ditmars allowed me to embed the scientific names of most of the reptiles in North America.  This was strengthened with years of college both as an undergrad and a grad student.  Now, nearly 30 years later, a good portion of those names have changed and I am starting over again.  Poor me.

When I spot reptiles or amphibians, I usually mentally note them with their scientific name.  There's a Natrix fasciata or, as yesterday, a Sceloporus olivaceaous.  Thus the reason for the title of this blog - Scientific Names are All Wrong.  A bit of a hyperbole and a sign of slight frustration on my part.  

I know it is all proper scientific advancement, but Trachemys just doesn't roll off the tongue like Pseudemys.   I know.  I know.  Get with the program and relearn the names. (Next I will be waxing on about the good old days).  

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