Justification for a Standardised Zoological Nomenclature: The Fascinating World of Animal Common Names

Abstract

Historically, animals had been referred to by common or vernacular names, which varied from country to country, and even among different regions within the same country. Such vernacular names often provided no clues as to the animal under reference, with some animals sometimes being named using descriptors which are common names of other animals because of some resemblance in appearance or behaviour rather than any known taxonomic relationship. In other cases, vernacular names of two taxonomically different animals were so similar in spelling or pronunciation that non-zoologists were likely to be confused when referring to either animal. As more and more animals began to be identified and named around the 17^th century, it became imperative to choose a language like Latin, which was universally acceptable because it was a “dead” language not subject to frequent changes, as well as being widely-used by scholars of the time. Early attempts at using a polynomial system of nomenclature (use of long descriptive Latin names), met with little success during the 17^th century because the names were thought to be too cumbersome. A binomial system of nomenclature, introduced by Carl Linné during the mid-18^th century, greatly shortened the Latin polynomials into two-part names or binomens (comprising a genus name and a specific descriptor) and ensured uniformity and universality in zoological nomenclature worldwide. An International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), established by the beginning of the 19^th century, became the final authority on naming animals worldwide. The paper adduces some reasons why animals require a standardised nomenclature, and traces the history of zoological nomenclature from biblical times to the present.