Several common or local names may exist for one species. To transcend language or vernacular barriers the formal naming system of species is Latinized. The naming system utilizes a binomial classification system of genus and species or trinomial nomenclature system if there are subspecies within a species. The system promotes continuity, efficiency, and orderliness, because precise identification of a species is important in terms of classification or grouping. Furthermore, the official scientific name not only gives scientific information about a species but also its conservation status.

The sophistication of scientific naming is not immune to confusion from an influx of aliases. Aliases can be problematic, since they can result in confusion amongst conservation officials, customs officers, and even scientists. As a result, there is a movement to identify unofficial Latin aliases, since unofficial Latin aliases can cause problems for endangered species conservation or when attempting to precisely identify a species by its official scientific name. The problem is common amongst marine fish, and I have personally experienced this confusion while trying to identify certain marine fish. It’s frustrating.

The figure below illustrates the problem. The basking shark is officially known as Cetorhinus maximus, but the basking shark probably has more scientific names than vernacular names. There are almost 35 synonyms for the basking shark.

FishBase attempts to solve the problem by listing the synonyms of a species (see the above example), which is helpful. However, the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) aims to provide “an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms, including information on synonymy.” WoRMS will combine information from other databases like FishBase that contain authoritative marine species lists. Furthermore, WoRMS will contain information on all types of marine organisms “from whales to plankton.” From Reuters UK:

New species get a two-word Latin name as their formal identity. But scientists often wrongly believe they have found a new species and give a new name.

The oldest name usually takes precedence, as with the breadcrumb sponge’s name Halichondrea panicea given in 1766. Later names for the same sponge include Alcyonium manusdiaboli in 1794 or Trachyopsilla glaberrima in 1931.

Getting names right is a condition for managing resources in the seas, where many species are facing threats from over-fishing, pollution and climate change. Current high food prices could put more pressure on fish stocks.

Synonyms of Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765)

On the Net: MarineSpecies.org
On the Net: FishBase

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