Species Names
When uploading photos, it is recommended that you use Scientific names only.
Issue number one : in the case of a number of species, there are several English names for one and the same species.
Example : Chloris sinica = Oriental Greenfinch, Grey-capped Greenfinch.
Secondly : Korean botanical institutions have decided to rename a significant number of English plant species names; their recommendations are likely to be followed only by Korean botanists; iNaturalist is an international community of professional and amateur naturalists.
iNaturalist does not provide the user with much of a choice; if the species is in the system, it will show the English name (i.e. the English name preferred by iNaturalist) in larger letters, and the scientific name in smaller letters.
If the members of the project KMLA Species List agree on using Scientific names in their identification and comments, we can argue that the usage of English names is the responsibility of iNaturalist, and not of the KMLA Species List Project.
Comments
How to use scientific names only for my observation ?
Dear Mr. Charny,
When I type the identification of an individual animal or plant into iNaturalist, I use the Scientific name only, and in the above instruction to the fellow members of the KMLA Species List, I ask them to do the same.
iNaturalist forces me then to click on what it calls a "Common Name", with the effect that the Scientific name being listed as secondary.
The above instruction is meant as a guideline to my fellow nature observers at the camp I preside, that the learning and usage of common names is counterproductive, and that Scientific names should be used only.
Dear Mr. Ganse,
Appreciate your reply. Does it mean that the only possibility is when you enter a picture? Could it be done for a batch (all my lichen entries) and if it possible could you advise what steps should be applied.
Appreciate you,
Vitaly Charny
Birmingham, AL USA
Dear Mr. Charny,
I tried typing in only the Scientific name and not using the common name suggested by iNaturalist. In that case, iNaturalist lists the posted photo under "Something".
Being forced to use common names is the one point of iNaturalist I am critical of; otherwise it is an excellent tool to connect with scholars and passionate nature observers worldwide.
In my personal experience, there is no difference between the posting of an individual photo or a batch of photos.
I figure out already how to set myself to show only scientific names. However when I sort a selection it come out anyway according local names what in case of lichens is much less useful in those cases when they even exist if compare to birds.
Appreciate your help!
VC
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