34 replies to this topic

[gcsnelling]

Please oh please when talking about an ant if you are going to use the scientific name spell it out fully. It is Pogonomyrmex occidentalis not "Pogonomyrmex occ",  Camponotus pennsylvanicus not "Camponotus pennsylvanicus". Or use common names if you must, call it odorous house ant, not "Tap. sess" Although myself and other regulars can probably figure out what you mean new comers certainly may not be able to and you are doing them a major disservice. In addition I generally will not even bother to open a thread which is misspelled this way. Come on folks lets be a little professional here.

[Goldsystem]

I think that titles of topics and the first post should use full or commen names, but after that abbreviations should be fine as a newbie reading from the start would know what ant the author was talking about if the name was abbreviated from that point on.

Edited by Goldsystem, August 13 2016 - 9:29 AM.

[ctantkeeper]

At least use the abbreviation T. sessile for example, since it can be easily traced online.

[gcsnelling]

At least use the abbreviation T. sessile for example, since it can be easily traced online.

Yes abbreviations of that sort are widely accepted and used.

[dspdrew]

Haha, finally somebody said it. Seems it's the worst over on a particular Facebook page.

[gcsnelling]

This has been one of my major pet peeves for so many years.

[MrmrGatlin]

Personally I use shorter names like that ( I'm usually guilty of shortening odontomachus to odonto) when I'm in chat or PMing people that know what I'm saying. I try to use the appropriate shortened taxonomy like O. Brunneus or c. Floridanus when posting in a topic, especially if it's addressing someone newer.

[dspdrew]

To be honest, Campo, Pogo, and Acro doesn't bother me as much. It's just when people start using those terms along with species names, or simply abbreviating species names. They already have a proper way to shorten those, why change it?

[sgheaton]

I can't say it correctly - spelling it isn't going to be any easier. If you see Pogonomyrmex. Occ. I'm fairly certain you know exactly what someone means. 

[kellakk]

I can't say it correctly - spelling it isn't going to be any easier. If you see Pogonomyrmex. Occ. I'm fairly certain you know exactly what someone means. 

 

No one can say these names correctly, they're written in a dead language most of the time.  That said, it's still worthwhile learning and using the correct names of your ants. Like dspdrew said, shortening genus names isn't as much of a problem as shortening both genus and species names together.  It's not difficult to just write P. occidentalis rather than Pogonomyrmex occ and will not confuse people who aren't familiar with your species.  If I google " p occidentalis ant", I get results for Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. If I google "Pogonomyrmex occ ant", the only result I get of P. occidentalis is on this forum.

 

 

P.S. Species name is all lower case, while genus is capitalized.

[drtrmiller]

Over in the formicarium.it forum, they ban users for three days after two warnings about proper nomenclature.  They have a sticky specifically to help users understand how to write scientific names.

Another rule they have that would be particularly helpful in this forum, is a requirement that topics be titled appropriately.  Staff members are allowed to edit a title to better reflect the contents of the discussion. Not to single anyone in particular out, but there are a number of posts that I and others simply won't click on, because the title is overly vague.

[ctantkeeper]

Over in the formicarium.it forum, they ban users for three days after two warnings about proper nomenclature.  They have a sticky specifically to help users understand how to write scientific names.

Another rule they have that would be particularly helpful in this forum, is a requirement that topics be titled appropriately.  Staff members are allowed to edit a title to better reflect the contents of the discussion. Not to single anyone in particular out, but there are a number of posts that I and others simply won't click on, because the title is overly vague.

I'm not too sure about the idea of offering warnings for inproper nomenclature (at least those that can lead to people being permanently removed from the forum). Although I completely support the use of scientific names, I understand that beginning ant keepers will need time to slowly pick up skills such as these. But, on the other hand, yes, if this sort of thing happens over and over, action should be taken. I'm worried that this may scare away some of the beginners. anyways, I agree with the second part about vague titles.

Edited by ctantkeeper, August 17 2016 - 4:18 AM.

[gcsnelling]

Over in the formicarium.it forum, they ban users for three days after two warnings about proper nomenclature.  They have a sticky specifically to help users understand how to write scientific names.

Another rule they have that would be particularly helpful in this forum, is a requirement that topics be titled appropriately.  Staff members are allowed to edit a title to better reflect the contents of the discussion. Not to single anyone in particular out, but there are a number of posts that I and others simply won't click on, because the title is overly vague.

I would be all for warning folks about proper usage of names, the only way they are going to learn is by being called out on it.  These days esp. if not coached appropriately people are generally too lazy. I am totally one of those that will not click on vague titles.

[MichiganAnts]

ummm NO

 

 

I will continue to say Camponotus pennsylvanicus and Camponotus Nove and Camponotus Near. 

 

odds are you know what those mean.. if not them simply ask

[Shareallicu]

I can't say it correctly - spelling it isn't going to be any easier. If you see Pogonomyrmex. Occ. I'm fairly certain you know exactly what someone means. 

New people don't know what that means. 

[dspdrew]

ummm NO

 

 

I will continue to say Campo Penn and Campo Nove and Campo Near. 

 

odds are you know what those mean.. if not them simply ask

 

You're going to purposely try to look ignorant? Sounds like a great way to get support from the experts.

[T.C.]

ummm NO
 
 
I will continue to say Camponotus pennsylvanicus and Camponotus Nove and Camponotus Near. 
 
odds are you know what those mean.. if not them simply ask

Ummm... or you could make yourself look smarter and more professional by taking the extra 2 seconds it takes to write sylvanicus at the end of pennsylvanicus.

[MichiganAnts]

 

ummm NO

 

 

I will continue to say Camponotus pennsylvanicus and Camponotus Nove and Camponotus Near. 

 

odds are you know what those mean.. if not them simply ask

 

You're going to purposely try to look ignorant? Sounds like a great way to get support from the experts.

 

 

 

 

ummm NO
 
 
I will continue to say Camponotus pennsylvanicus and Camponotus Nove and Camponotus Near. 
 
odds are you know what those mean.. if not them simply ask

Ummm... or you could make yourself look smarter and more professional by taking the extra 2 seconds it takes to write sylvanicus at the end of pennsylvanicus.

 

So someone posting T. Sessile is ok (as stated above) but me saying Camponotus pennsylvanicus is a no no? Personally as long as everyone can tell what you are saying i don't see an issue.

[dspdrew]

 

 

ummm NO

 

 

I will continue to say Camponotus Penn and Camponotus Nove and Camponotus Near. 

 

odds are you know what those mean.. if not them simply ask

 

You're going to purposely try to look ignorant? Sounds like a great way to get support from the experts.

 

 

 

 

ummm NO
 
 
I will continue to say Camponotus Penn and Camponotus Nove and Camponotus Near. 
 
odds are you know what those mean.. if not them simply ask

Ummm... or you could make yourself look smarter and more professional by taking the extra 2 seconds it takes to write sylvanicus at the end of Penn.

 

So someone posting T. Sessile is ok (as stated above) but me saying Campo Penn is a no no? Personally as long as everyone can tell what you are saying i dont see an issue.

 

 

Yeah it is a no no. You don't think there is a logical reason for these conventions?

[drtrmiller]

So someone posting T. Sessile is ok (as stated above) but me saying Camponotus pennsylvanicus is a no no? Personally as long as everyone can tell what you are saying i don't see an issue.

It's clear that this forum could do a better job educating users on the topic of writing binomial names. Many of us take for granted the fact that we've researched and learned these customs on our own, and so it's no surprise that newcomers, unfamiliar with them, would think that there are no uniform rules to the system most of us here are following.

I would recommend adding a section to the forum rules that simply describes how to write binomial names, so every member will have immediate access to this small, but very important custom which we all respect.

There are only a handful of clear rules to follow. Please kindly take 5 minutes or so to familiarize yourself with them, as described here: https://en.m.wikiped..._binomial_names

Edited by drtrmiller, February 18 2017 - 12:34 AM.