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THE NAME GAME
Sometimes the common name of a species makes perfect sense; the Bald Eagle is
one obvious example. But sometimes a name tells us more about the fickle
nature of humans than about the creature it describes. Test your knowledge of
common names with a special eNature quiz.
Q. What's a daddy-long-legs?
A. It depends on a person's location. In England the term is used to describe
a type of spider, usually in the family Pholcidae, common in homes and other
buildings. These are the spindly legged spiders often seen hanging in messy
webs near ceilings. Americans call them Cellar Spiders.
A daddy-long-legs stateside is another type of arachnid, in the order
Opiliones, also known as Harvestmen. These creatures are found outdoors,
usually in moist, dark places where they hide during the day. While they look
like spiders and have eight legs, they're not spiders.
There's also a type of fly that's referred to as a daddy-long-legs. These
insects are more appropriately called crane flies -- a reference to their
long legs, similar to those of the birds called cranes. These flies are also
known as mosquito hawks or mosquito eaters. And though crane flies resemble
mosquitoes, they could never eat one because they lack functional mouth parts
as adults.
Q. What's the difference between the Eastern Towhee, the Spotted Towhee, and
the Rufous-sided Towhee?
A. Time is the main factor with these bird names. Originally the Eastern
Towhee and the Spotted Towhee were considered distinct species. Biologists
later decided that these were simply two forms, or subspecies, of a single
species, the Rufous-sided Towhee. More recently, though, opinion has swung
back, and current field guides again recognize the Eastern Towhee in the East
and the Spotted Towhee in the West.
Q: What do the Long-tailed Duck, the Northern Pikeminnow, and the Gray Pine
have in common?
A. The common names of these three species have been modified to eliminate
terms that were disrespectful to Native Americans. The Long-tailed Duck was
formerly known as the Oldsquaw, the Northern Pikeminnow used to be known as
the Northern Squawfish, and the Gray Pine was called the Digger Pine, a term
applied to several tribes of California natives who dug for edible roots and
bulbs.
Q: What's the difference between the Prairie Rattlesnake, the Northern
Pacific Rattlesnake, and the Great Basin Rattlesnake?
A. These are all forms of a single species, the Western Rattlesnake. Each is
a distinct subspecies that occupies a different geographic region. The
Western Rattlesnake is also known as the Timber Rattlesnake in the Sierra
Nevada and the Rockies -- a misnomer because the true Timber Rattlesnake
exists only east of the Rockies. Such is the problem with a lot of folk names
or regionalisms.
Q: What's the difference between Steelhead and Rainbow Trout?
A. These two names refer to the same species. Inland versions of the fish
that remain in freshwater all their lives are called Rainbow Trout, while
coastal forms that migrate to the ocean and return to streams to spawn are
called Steelhead.
Even more confusing is the history of the scientific name of the species.
Prior to 1989, the fish was officially known as Salmo gairdneri, and now it's
Oncorhynchus mykiss. Why? Paleontologists looking at fossil evidence
concluded that certain "trout" were actually more like Pacific Salmon, which
are in the genus Oncorhynchus. The species name was changed when someone
realized that a specimen collected in Asia and named mykiss at the time was
actually the same species. Because the name mykiss appeared first, it was
then applied to all members of the species.
Confused? You're not alone. But take comfort in the knowledge that no matter
where you live or what you call it, the beautiful black, white, and red
towhee scuffling in the leaf litter is as fascinating to watch as ever.
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