[Airedale]

This is a rhetorical question for the most part, mostly just a rant. Why has the pet industry given so many names to lygodactylus williamsi? Is it just because "william's dwarf day gecko" isn't catchy? I think it is kind of dumb and just ends up confusing people. The newest one I have heard is "blue cave gecko". Since when do they inhabit caves in the wild? I know "cave" has the same "a" sound as "day", but seriously. Here are all the names I have heard:

William's Dwarf Day Gecko (which I accept as the true name)
Electric Blue Gecko
Electric Blue Dwarf Day Gecko
Blue and Orange Gecko
Blue Cave Gecko
Dwarf Day Gecko

Is it just me or is this all getting ridiculous? Why can't we just have one taxonomic name and one common name. Same thing with species like the viper gecko (even the taxonomic name is confusing, since it was changed). Sorry for the rant, but it has been bugging me.

[hexentanz]

It is like this with all animals (and everything) unfortunately, it's just not usually noticed until you get in to the animal and go poking for information.

I do agree with you it is very annoying. I recently had someone come up to me at a show asking for the "Big Eyed pastel colored Phelsuma" took quite a bit of time before I realized they wanted a Phelsuma klemmeri.

[Airedale]

I can understand sometimes similar names get mixed up, but they get so ridiculous sometimes. Maybe the next time I get a dog, I will get a Labrador retriever and ask for a black webbed footed marsh tromping hunting hound. See who looks at me like I'm insane...

[Palor]

Common names are just names locals call the animals. Some creatures have over a dozen common names.

[rdj52785]

Some folks suggest we eliminate common names entirely due to this confusion. They suggest that gecko keepers use Latin names in all situations. I don't perscribe to this entirely, but I do see a big value in learning and using latin names whenever possible. Plus it makes me feel neardy in a good way to shout all my favorite latin names to some innocent interested party in my reptile room. Though latin names sometimes change, there's much less room for confusion here.

[Airedale]

Originally Posted by rdj52785

Some folks suggest we eliminate common names entirely due to this confusion. They suggest that gecko keepers use Latin names in all situations. I don't perscribe to this entirely, but I do see a big value in learning and using latin names whenever possible. Plus it makes me feel neardy in a good way to shout all my favorite latin names to some innocent interested party in my reptile room. Though latin names sometimes change, there's much less room for confusion here.

I agree. That's pretty much how I feel and what I do. I usually only call my leopard geckos as leopard geckos. Everyone else is Latin

[colinmelsom]

Animals get called different names in different countries,thats why its best to use the Latin name .It avoids any confusion.

[chelseagrin]

alot of stores online sell them as dwarf blue cave geckos.

[Riverside Reptiles]

Come on Jim, you've been here long enough to know the importance of learning the latin names of your animals. There's a ton of different common names for every species, but there's only one latin name (in general). Use the latin name and you eliminate all of the confusion. Common names are for newbies and lazy people

[Airedale]

Originally Posted by Riverside Reptiles

Come on Jim, you've been here long enough to know the importance of learning the latin names of your animals. There's a ton of different common names for every species, but there's only one latin name (in general). Use the latin name and you eliminate all of the confusion. Common names are for newbies and lazy people

I already said that's what I do Ethan! except for the leos. I just feel it gets confusing for people who are newer to geckos try to find one and it is listed under three different names. I wish everyone would use Latin names... Sadly they don't...