The main reason that most people talk using scientific names in the herp world is that so many of the creatures have more than one common name. Even the crested gecko has other common names like eyelash gecko, or eyelash crested gecko, etc. By just referring to it as
Rhacodactylus ciliatus, everyone knows what it is right away.
Another reason for using so many scientific names on the forums is that people are from all over the world. No matter what language you speak or read or write, the scientific names are always going to be the same.
Hope that helps. Remember, you can always do a quick Google search or something using the name to figure out what it is.
Oh, and Leopard geckos are
Eublepharis macularius.
