Scientific Name & Common Name

[nitekram]

I am new, so not sure if this is looked down on or not, but I found this site, and wanted to make reference here, so that I can use it - or anyone else

Disclamier, since I am new, I am not sure if this list is correct, but I checked a few and they were common

The link

SCIENTFIC COMMON

Acanthoscurria Geniculata Brazilian Giant White Knee
Acanthoscurria Insutilis Bolivian White Knee
Acanthoscurria Jurvenicola Matto-Grosso Violet Purple Rump
Acanthoscurria Suina Sulpher Brown
Acanthoscurria Verdezi/Char Bolivian Red Rump
Aphonopelma Bicolouratum Mexican Bloodleg
Aphonopelma Caniceps Big Bend Gold Carapace
Aphonopelma Burica Costa Rican Chestnut Zebra
Aphonopelma Chalcodes Desert Blonde Tarantula
Aphonopelma Anax Texan Tan Tarantula
Aphonopelma Eutylenum Californian Ebony Tarantula
Aphonopelma Hentzi Texan Brown Tarantula
Aphonopelma Moderatum Rio Grande Gold Tarantula
Aphonopelma Seemanni Costa Rican Zebra
Avicularia Juvuensis Yellow Banded Tarantula
Avicularia Metallica Whitetoe Tarantula
Avicularia Purpurea Ecuadorian Purple Tarantula
Avicularia Urticans Peruvian Pink Toe
Avicularia Versicolour Antilles Pink Toe
Brachypelma Albopilosum Curly Hair Tarantula
Brachypelma Angustum Costa Rican Red Tarantula
Brachypelma Auratum Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula
Brachypelma Baumgarteni Mexican Orange Beauty Tarantula
Brachypelma Boehmei Mexican Fireleg Tarantula
Brachypelma Emilia Mexican Red Leg Tarantula
Brachypelma Epicureanum Yucatan Rust Rump Tarantula
Brachypelma Klassi Mexican Pink Tarantula
Brachypelma Smithi Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
Brachypelma Vagans Mexican Red Rump Tarantula
Ceratogyrus Bechuanicus Curved Horn Baboon Tarantula
Ceratogyrus Brachycephalus Greater Horned Baboon Tarantula
Ceratogyrus Marshalli Straight Horned Baboon Tarantula
Chilobrachys Andersoni Burmese Mustard Tarantula
Chilobrachys Sericeus Asian Mustard Tarantula
Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens Green Bottle Blue Tarantula
Citharacanthus Spinicrus Haitian Cinnamon Tarantula
Citharacanthus Crinirufum Costa Rican Blue Front Tarantula
Citharischius Crawshayi King Baboon Tarantula
Cyclosternum Fasciatum Costa Rican Tiger Rump
Cyriopagopus Paganus Asian Chevron Tarantula
Davus Pentoralis Mexican Giant Tiger Tarantula
Ephobus Cyanognathus Blue Fang Tarantula
Ephobus Murinus Yellow Flame Knee Tarantula
Ephobus Ruficens Burgandy Skeleton Tarantula
Eupalaestrus Camperstratus Pink Zebra Beauty Tarantula
Eupalaestrus Weijenberghi White Collared Tarantula
Grammastola Alticeps Brazilian Grey Smoke Tarantula
Grammastola Burzaquensis Argentinian Rose Tarantula
Grammastola Grossa Pampas Tawney Red Tarantula
Grammastola Iheringi Entre Rios Tarantula
Grammastola Pulchra Brazilian Black Tarantula
Grammastola Rosea Chilean Rose Tarantula
Grammastola Aureosriata Chaco Golden Striped Tarantula
Haplopelma Albostriata Thai Zebra Tarantula
Haplopelma Lividum Cobalt Blue Tarantula
Haplopelma Minax Thailand Black Tarantula
Holothele Incei Trinidad Olive Tarantula
Heteroscodra Maculata Togo Starburst Baboon Tarantula
Hysterocrates Crassipes Cameroon Brown Tarantula
Hysterocrates Gigas Cameroon Red Tarantula
Hysterocrates Laticeps Nigerian Rust Red Tarantula
Iridopelma Zorodes Brazilian Purple Tarantula
Lasiodora Cristatus Brazilian Red & White Tarantula
Lasiodora Parahybana Salmon Pink Birdeater
Lasiodora Striatus Striped Leg Tarantula
Megaphobema Mesomelas Costa Rican Red Leg
Megaphobema Robustum Columbian Giant Tarantula
Megaphobema Velvetsoma Ecuadorian Brown Velvet
Metriopelma Zebratum Costa Rican Sun Tiger
Nhandu Coloratovillosus Brazilian Black & White

 

[GG80]

Common names tend to be frowned upon simply because there are some species with up to 3 or 4 different 'common' names and it leads to confusion when asking for, or giving advise to someone. When someone uses the Latin names it is easier to know what species he or she is refering to.

 

[Graeboe]

I hate to agree that common names are frowned upon because a lot of the times people new to the hobby have only been exposed to them. But it is not hard to google a scientific name and 99% of anyone who is starting to take the hobby seriously will have looked up the scientific name. Its always good practice to know the scientific side of any hobby that you are starting in. Not only will it help you relate to those who have been doing this long term but it will also help you find more accurate information that you want and need when learning about a new acquisition.

 

[nitekram]

Okay...I do understand the use of the scientific name, but I have found that not everyone uses that name - meaning while doing searches for what certain T's look like - I have found a mixed bag of them labeled
by their common name and scientific name.

Can someone explain or link me to the abbreviations that I see on this forum or the internet - ie MM, H pulchripes, and M balfouri

What are the one letters used for? What do the longer words represent?

I also sometimes see a latin names followed by 1 or 2 characters ie sp, r, ect.

 

[BobGrill]

They stand for the genus and species name. Brachypelma smithi. Brachypelma = genus, smithi = species.

 

[Blueandbluer]

Okay...I do understand the use of the scientific name, but I have found that not everyone uses that name - meaning while doing searches for what certain T's look like - I have found a mixed bag of them labeled
by their common name and scientific name.

Can someone explain or link me to the abbreviations that I see on this forum or the internet - ie MM, H pulchripes, and M balfouri

What are the one letters used for? What do the longer words represent?

I also sometimes see a latin names followed by 1 or 2 characters ie sp, r, ect.

MM = Mature male.

When you see things like G. rosea, that is the abbreviation of the genus name. By convention, it's ok to put the capital first letter of the genus name and follow with the species name. G. rosea would therefore be shorthand for Grammastola rosea, B. smithi for Brachypelma smithi, etc.

sp is used when the species is unknown either because it is as-yet undescribed by science or because someone isn't sure which species it belongs to, though they may know the genus. So for example you may say Pamphobeteus sp. meaning that you know it's a spider in Pamphobeteus genus but there isn't a species name.

 

[BobGrill]

It's the same for any plant or animal species. That is how scientists classify life forms.

 

[Blueandbluer]

Correct. I know I learned it in 9th grade science, but with education being in the state it's in, who knows what they teach these days...

 

[nitekram]

So there may be many species under each of the genus names? What are the distinctions for the different species - color? And the genus, are they all from the different types of tarantulas?

"scientists classify life forms"
Similar to: Dog | Lab | Black?

 

[awiec]

It's the same for any plant or animal species. That is how scientists classify life forms.

With plants you get some more complicated stuff cause you have to deal with domesticated lines and hybrids are common (and are welcomed). With spiders just stick to what bob said here as it's much simpler.

There are some common names used as the spider is very distinct and vast majority of people know what it is such as:
OBT=Orange Bitey Thing/Orange Baboon Tarantula= Red Color Form(RCF) of P.murinus
GBB= Green Bottle Blue= C.cyaneopubescens (This is also the only spider described to this genus)

A lot of slang and lingo you see here is just stuff you have to learn as you spend time here, that is true with any interest and hobby, so don't feel intimidated just read as many threads as you can here. By spending time you learn the personalities here and how the forum generally operates.

 

[nitekram]

Correct. I know I learned it in 9th grade science, but with education being in the state it's in, who knows what they teach these days...

I am sure I took at least one science class when I was in school, but, for me, that was a life time ago - 35 plus years lol

 

[Blueandbluer]

So there may be many species under each of the genus names? What are the distinctions for the different species - color? And the genus, are they all from the different types of tarantulas?

"scientists classify life forms"
Similar to: Dog | Lab | Black?

Ok, quick taxonomy lesson. Let's use cats. House cats are in the genus Felis, along with a lot of other animals, like jungle cats. A house cat's scientific name is Felis catus. The jungle cat's scientific name is Felis chaus. So, same genus, different species = different, but related, animal. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species Animals in the same genus & species can interbreed and create fertile offspring. Animals in the same genus but a different species MAY be capable of interbreeding, but their offspring will almost always be sterile, i.e. unable to breed themselves. An example of this is the mule, which is the offspring of 2 different species, a horse and a donkey. Another example are ligers, the crossbreeding of a tiger with a lion.

So, you see, species is not determined by color, but genetics. (as a side note, that very misunderstanding has been used by racists claiming that white people are a different species than other humans -- completely factually unfounded.)

Your dog example is not correct, as "lab" is not a species but a breed. This is evident by the fact that you can take a lab and breed it with a husky and the mutt that results is still fertile.

For more detail, please read http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_classification.

 

[cold blood]

So there may be many species under each of the genus names? What are the distinctions for the different species - color? And the genus, are they all from the different types of tarantulas?

"scientists classify life forms"
Similar to: Dog | Lab | Black?

First off, that is not the scientific classification of a lab...lol.

The first letter, which is always capitalized, is the genus. This is a group of closely related animals. The second, which is not capitalized, is the species name within the genus. So when you see P. ornata for instance, you have the genus Poecilotheria, indicating the group of related animals....and ornata, which is the specific species within that genus.

Learning the scientific names helps you to easily recognize spiders (animals, really) which are related and share common characteristics. While your common name list may be accurate, its imcomplete as many t's have several different common names (depending on location, as they cross borders of different peoples), while they all only carry one single scientific name. This surplus of common names per individual is what makes the common name of much less use than the scientific name.

If you come here and say I got a striped knee tarantula, everyone's gonna guess a different species and you'll just end up answering questions as to the species or you will have just created confusion where there should be none. Scientific names are specific and no animal on the planet has more than one scientific name assigned to it.

Do yourself a huge favor and learn the scientific.

 

[pyro fiend]

i understand this can be rather confusing to a new comer.. but coldblood hit it on the head.. first leter MUST be capped.. its the genus. whatever folows can be all lower [which would be correct but nowadays a phone capitalizes anything after a period so we forgive them using it wrong lol]

if you dont know what the genus is with that species.. because some share the same first letter.. quick one off the top of the head is Phormictopus, Psalmopeus, Poecilotheria ,Pterinochilus and Pamphobeteus [pretty sure i spelled these right somone quote me if im wrong ill fix it lol] just ask, worst case scenario is we raise an eyebrow.. itl help you learn more and more about T's and the way they evolved with the mor genus you learn about

but everyone is right.. personally i shun common invert names anymore, so much so i typically wont buy from a person that lists the common name, especially first!.. when i first started reading on T's i was like "sweet this is a gooty.. this is a birdeater and this is a flame leg and thats Goliath... i want those.." yea then look up birdeater.. youl bring up a minimum of seven species.. and on birdeater i can guarantee its minimum 4 genus lol plus common names are made up as they go.. iv seen avics sold media sites as "cobalt blue" [H. lididum] and a common name like "mexican tarantula" throws me through the wall.. as if there is only one species there -.- GRR lol learn scientific names.. and please dont turn back XD

 

[Poec54]

Common names create far more confusion that they do anything else. The ones who use them are beginners and/or people who know nothing about tarantulas. If you want to progress in the hobby, you'll want to learn the scientific names. It's easy enough; we've all managed.

 

[cold blood]

you'll want to learn the scientific names. It's easy enough; we've all managed.

It can be entertaining as well. Get a list of a few good dealer sites that have good pics, and go through every one they have and make a "wish list", always paying attention to the scientific names, this will help put "names with faces" so to speak. It will also expose you to a lot of different species you may not have known or thought much about. And since most have them listed alphabetically, according to genus, you will be able to see the spiders related to one another al grouped together. (net-bug has really good pics)

 

[Sana]

When I first joined this community, every time I read a scientific name I did a copy/paste into Google and looked up pictures of what folks were talking about. I still Google a lot for correct spelling of a genus or species that I'm less familiar with. You wouldn't believe how long it takes to teach a "smart" phone the correct spelling for your favorite tarantula's scientific name.

 

[Ripa]

Maybe it's just me, but in scientific literature, it's a common rule to keep the genus uppercase and the species lowercase when it comes to binomial names. I hate it when the beginning of the species name is capitalized....

 

[Poec54]

By learning scientific names, you can start to get an understanding of what's related (common names are useless for that). the next step after that is learning the subfamilies the genera are in, which gives further understanding of relationships. Go to 'Eight: a Site about Tarantulas' and print off the species lists, they're arranged by subfamily and genus. Read it a few times, and keep it handy as a reference (I still do). This will help clarify things for you.

 

[lalberts9310]

Okay:

M. Balfouri = monocentropus balfouri

It's just the first letter of the genus name followed by the name of the species

You get different species within a genus:
E.g.

Genus: brachypelmya
Brachypelma species:
B. emilia
B. albopilosum
B. smithi
B. boehmei

Etc.

The next abreviations stands for:

MM: mature male
MF: mature female
AF: adult female
AM: adult male
Sp. : species
NW: new world - tarantula genera from north and south america
OW: old world - tarantula genera from any other part of the world but north and south america
LPS: local pet store/shop
Spec: specimen/species

Common names are useless, they're confusing. Where you need to learn all 4 or 5 common names for a specie, you can learn one scientific name.

E.g.

Common names:
skeleton leg tarantula
Yellow flame knee tarantula

Scientific name: ephebopus murinus

Now instead of learning two confusing common names, you can learn one scientific name, what is better is when you find another species from the same genera:

Common name: blue fang tarantula

Scientific name: ephebopus cyanognathus

When you familiarised yourself with the previous scientific name it's easier to learn the next one within the same genus. You already know ephebopus murinus, so now you just need to learn cyanognathus because you know it's from the genus ephebopus. You don't have to learn and remember the whole common name/s all over again.

Hope this makes sense