Forum announcement:- Posting quality.

[Bushviper]

Exanthematicus if you do not know the English common name, send one of the admin or mods a private message and we will sort that out for you.

[Andrew]

Scientific names are good but if used with the common name it does not cause a problem. A Chelonia mydas is a green turtle so why not use or say it without technical daa daa?
I personally have very little time for show offs.

The scientific name has its place but if the common name is available why use a book name. Joe public knows that a cape cobra is what it is and not a nija nivea so why use the scientific name if the local name is valid? Very few will know what a Sepsina angolensis is without looking in a book so why use it??

[alexander]

Many species have local names that others from different parts might not recognise. Its not too much trouble just to add a scientific name as well.

[Mellivora]

'oh you so lucky! and here iv been studyin and writing papers for 4 days straight'

Always thought iv = intravenous

QED

[Iggy]

@ Andrew - Joe Public in South Africa may know what what a cape cobra is, but one of our members in Spain, Chile, Thailand....you get the idea....will very probably have only come across scientific names OR may know "common names" for our own local species which we have never even come across. There are also many "common name" snakes which have alternative names, and some which have the same common name yet are different species. A perfect example would be "night adders" - there are many people who use this term to a snake I call "Red lipped herald", but for me "night adder" refers to Causus rhombeatus. Scientific names combined with common names in a post eliminates confusion for those who find it important to know correct details while making the post understandable for Joe Public.