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Discussion » Questions » Names » Why do animal species and plants need to have both scientific names and non-scientific names? Why not just one or the other? ~
Randy D

Why do animal species and plants need to have both scientific names and non-scientific names? Why not just one or the other? ~

Posted - July 1, 2020
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Responses


  • 1817
    scientific names are important in the scientific community because they are always universal regardless of language 

    the word cat is different in different languages, so people may not realize they are talking about the same animal 

    casual names are easier to pronounce and remember, and honesty think about how weird it would be if everyone said i have a felis catus at home 
      July 1, 2020 8:40 AM MDT
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  • 44652
    Nice answer. AP
      July 1, 2020 8:44 AM MDT
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  • 53526

    Thank you. 

    ~

      July 1, 2020 8:57 AM MDT
    0

  • 10664

    I always figured it was just so you couldn't ace the test.  


    Have you ever looked at some of those so-called "scientific" names?


    Cat - Felis Catus (sounds like someone’s 2-year old named that one)
    Dog – Canis Lupus Familiaris (wait, I thought cats were familiars?)
    Cow - Bos Taurus (that means that Ford car your driving is actually a “boss” cow)
    Sheep - Ovis aries (uh-huh… named by a teenage scientist, no doubt)

     

      July 1, 2020 10:19 AM MDT
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