Shark names..

[prionace.it]

Hi,
I desider to know why in english language some sharks names are given creating confusion about the translation in other languages.

For example: Carcharhinus leucas = bull shark (while in other languages the term "bull shark" is referred, to Carcharias taurus and in latin "taurus"="bull")

I know the names are given to describe fisic sharks elements but perhaps it will be better to refer the name of the shark to the scientific name more possible..

What do you think about it?

Thanks for the attention.
Best regards.
Marco

 

[Walter]

To avoid confusion, scientists use scientific names because common names are confusing. For example, a Batfish in the Pacific is very different from a Batfish in the Atlantic.

Common names are rarely taken from the tranlation of the scientific name. Since few of us speak latin and most of us do not remember scientific names common names are what are used. The Carcharias taurus AKA Grey Nurse is also the Raggedtooth and the Sand Tiger depending on what part of the world you are in at the time.

The Bull Shark got it's common name from its short bull like snout.

While we may wish scientific names were used exclusively, they aren't. Wishing doesn't make it so. We have to deal with the way things are, not the way we wish they were - even when they really should be that way.

 

[prionace.it]

Why in your opinion common names are rarely taken from the tranlation of the scientific name? (example : Charcharias taurus = bull shark) almost in english language, considering that in scientific situations english language is the first language in the world, the one from all the others translate..

 

[Thalassamania]

English as the "first language" in the world is a fairly recent (post WWII) phenomena, while the rules for scientific nomenclature go back to Linnaeus (1707–1778), a Swedish botanist, invented the modern system of binomial nomenclature.

 

[prionace.it]

I wanted to say that english language is the first COMMON language to be used in the world. Sure that the first language to recognize the animals is latin, with the binomial nomenclature!!

 

[Maggy]

English as the "first language" in the world is a fairly recent (post WWII) phenomena, while the rules for scientific nomenclature go back to Linnaeus (1707–1778), a Swedish botanist, invented the modern system of binomial nomenclature.

We should use Swedish names on the fishes. That would make it so much easier for me. Just joking, honestly, I don't know many of the fish names in Swedish. I think the English name is the most common to use. If you like to determine the exact species, the scientific name is good.

Btw, Carl von Linné was living in my hometown. Many things are named after him here (street, school etc).

 

[Walter]

Why in your opinion common names are rarely taken from the tranlation of the scientific name?

My guess is that people giving common names to fish usually have no knowledge of the scientific name and sometimes the common name predates the scientific name.

 

[elan]

In Russian we call fish most of the times differently and it does not match neither English nor Latin names. For the sharks the names are derived from the descriptions of the shark rather than from direct translation from English. For example hammerhead shark would be called fish-hummer if I make direct translation.

There are other common languages in use widely other than English.

 

[Thalassamania]

I wanted to say that english language is the first COMMON language to be used in the world. Sure that the first language to recognize the animals is latin, with the binomial nomenclature!!

Hardly, there have been many languages that were the common language in the past, prior to WWII it was French, there was a time (at least in the west) when it was Italian, Latin, Greek, and so on as you move back in time.