Some say Latin names are elitist and incomprehensible, but they started out as a way to be inclusive.
Articles on Species names
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Taxonomy does not exist in a vacuum. It is deeply entwined with history and society.
Birds have one unchanging scientific name, but often many common names that are subject to change. Choosing a new name for a bird isn’t necessarily a simple decision.
What’s in a name? A lot, if you’re an Audubon’s Oriole or a Townsend’s Solitaire.
One of Australia’s largest groups of flower species is named after a wealthy British slave-trader. And Nazi memorabilia collectors have almost sent “Hitler’s beetle” extinct. It’s time for a change.
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Adjunct Assoc. Professor, The University of Western Australia
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Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology, University of Denver
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PhD Candidate, UNSW
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Researcher, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo
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Professor and Chair, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo
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GBIF Node Manager for Norway, University of Oslo
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Professor of Plant Taxonomy and Biodiversity, Addis Ababa University
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Assistant Professor of Biology, Kennesaw State University