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Re: TLA's-Common Names
Personally, I feel that the three letter codes that
Scheel began using 20-25 years ago to designate
specific species are now nearly useless. There are so
many new killifish, that finding unique three letter
codes that approximate the species name will begin to
lead to confusion.. There is now some overlap in
potential names and therefore confusion in using these
codes to represent killifish species names.
However, finding a common set of abbreviations for the
generic name is useful for the lazy.
With respect to using an abbreviation to designate a
genus saves a lot of typing. Remember that once you
have typed out the complete generic name, you can use
the first letter of the genus to represent the genus.
For example once you have used Nothobranchius every
use of N to represent the genus name thereafter will
be interpreted as Nothobranchius. The only confusion
of which genus you are referring to will occur if your
discussion shifts to the genus Nematolebias. In that
case you must use some other abbreviation other than N
to stand for the genus Nematolebias. That is why
reaching some sort of consensus on standard
abbreviation for the genus names will be useful.
Finally, I agree that common names are in general more
useful for most hobbyists and these common names
probably will not change as frequently as species and
genus names will in the scientific literature. Having
said this, however, the scientific name is still our
best means of referring to a specific species.
--- judy & jerry <jjmack1 at fox_tds.net> wrote:
> I've got to agree with the position that scientific
> names hinder the
> hobby.Let anyone on this list try going to an
> aquarium shop and try any
> kind of protracted discussion in
> scientific legaleeze and watch how fast the general
> public turns off.
=====
Allen H. Johnson
132 Whispering Oaks Dr.
West Chester, Pa. 19382
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