Many people are curious as to why fish species tend to have Latin names rather than common English names. The practice of giving organisms scientific names in Latin and Greek dates back centuries and serves an important purpose in biology and scientific communication. In this article, we’ll explore the history behind Latin names for fish, the rules and conventions for scientific naming, and the benefits of using a universal scientific naming system.
A Brief History of Latin Names in Biology
The practice of using Latin as a common language for science began in the Middle Ages when Latin was widely used in academia and scholarly writing. Latin was adopted by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century who invented the binomial system of naming species which we still use today.
Linnaeus published descriptions of thousands of plant and animal species and gave each a two-word Latin name – the first word for the genus and the second for the specific epithet of the species. For example, the scientific name for salmon is Oncorhynchus kisutch. Oncorhynchus refers to the genus while kisutch identifies the particular species.
This system was an improvement over the long descriptive names used previously and provided an exact, universal way to refer to a species.
Rules for Scientific Names
The modern system of scientific naming follows rules laid out in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Here are some of the key guidelines:
- The first word of a species’ scientific name identifies the genus.
- The second word is the specific epithet that distinguishes the species from others in the same genus.
- The names are written in italics with the genus name capitalized and species name lower-cased.
- Once published, a name can’t be changed except under very strict circumstances.
- Each species can only have one correct scientific name though inaccurate synonyms may exist in older literature.
There are many additional rules around proper formulation and priority of scientific names dictated by the ICZN.
Benefits of the Latin Naming System
Using Latin binomial names offers a number of advantages for classifying and communicating about species:
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Universal | Latin names are universal across languages and geographic regions. |
| Unambiguous | Each species has only one correct scientific name which eliminates confusion. |
| Specific | The two-word Latin names convey the genus and exact species. |
| Stable | Scientific names are permanent unlike common names that vary by location. |
| Descriptive | Parts of the name often provide information about the species’ appearance, habitat, behavior, etc. |
The stability, specificity, and universality of Latin binomial names are the primary advantages for scientists and enable clear communication about species across the world.
Assigning Names to New Fish Species
When a new fish species is scientifically described for the first time, taxonomists have the responsibility of assigning it a new Latin name. Here is the general process:
- Determine the genus based on evolutionary relationships and morphological features.
- Propose a new specific epithet that provides information about the species. This is often based on Greek or Latin roots.
- Publish the official description and new binomial name in a scientific journal or book.
- Deposit type specimens in a museum research collection tied to the published name.
The specifics around morphology, distribution, ecology, and taxonomy of the species are detailed in the official published description along with the all-important identification of the new Latin name.
Examples of Latin Names for Fish Species
Let’s look at some examples of scientific names for common fish and what the names reveal:
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Killer whale | Orcinus orca | Orcinus – kingdom of the dead; orca – whale |
| Tiger shark | Galeocerdo cuvier | Galeocerdo – shark; cuvier – in honor of French anatomist Georges Cuvier |
| Rainbow trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Oncorhynchus – hooked nose; mykiss – a Kamchatkan name for trout |
As we can see, the roots of the Latin or Greek words often describe the species’ appearance or other traits. The specific epithets sometimes honor notable biologists who first described the species as well.
Challenges of Common Fish Names
Unlike the universal, permanent Latin scientific names, common English names for fish have some drawbacks:
- Not unique – For example, “bass” can refer to dozens of different species.
- Vary by location – “Patagonian toothfish” vs. “Chilean seabass.”
- Change over time – Older common names fall out of use.
- Describe appearance – Less useful for precise identification.
- Lack standards – Common names aren’t governed by strict rules.
This variability and ambiguity creates confusion and makes common names unreliable for science and accurate communication about specific species. Latin binomials solve this problem.
Conclusion
While common fish names have their place, the centuries-old tradition of Latin scientific names remains the gold standard. The rules, structure, and permanence of Latin binomials enable clear communication between scientists across disciplines and geographic borders. Using shared scientific names minimizes confusion, aids discovery, and underpins our understanding of the natural world. So while the Latin may seem complicated at first, remember it serves an essential purpose for both science and conservation.
