RE: What do var, cf. etc mean?

June 8, 2001
From: Nishina Chikako

Hello Dear Dr.Rudman,

Thank you very much for your kind explanation. I guess I could understand the part about 'cf' and 'var'. but I have more question on sp. It's a bit difficult for me.

Does sp. means 'one of' or 'a kind of'? For example does 'Atys sp.' mean a kind of 'Atys? Do you use it when you are sure that it's a kind of Atys but it's not A.cylindrica, A. naucum, A. semistriata or any other species of Atys you know?

When you said: "It does not necessarily mean that the species does not have a name. It just means that the person using 'Tritonia sp.' does not know if the species has a name".
I got confused with this. Do you mean 'the species might have a name but you don't know it?' And you mention about a 'local name' which a local diver might use or some like a Japanese name decided in the academy of Japan?

And another question: In the Forum you have numbered these unnamed species sp1, sp2 etc. Is it possible that for example Chromodoris sp. 1. in your Forum is called Chromodoris sp. 2 or 'Chromodoris A' in another Forum or country?

Sincerely yours
Chikako

cnishina@icas.co.jp

Nishina, C., 2001 (Jun 8) RE: What do var, cf. etc mean? . [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4533

Dear Chikako,
I think the answer to all your questions is yes.

The only universal and unambiguous name for a species is its scientific name. That is why we have so many rules and an International Committee to supervise naming of species and to sort out problems as they arise.

However it is not always practical to formally name or identify every apparent species we find in our day to day work. For example when we get material to identify for ecological studies and surveys the ecologists are usually more interested in how many different kinds of animals are present and are not willing to wait for the few taxonmists available to either identify all the animals present or if necessary give them new names. So we have these conventions Atys sp. 1, Atys cf. naucum, etc. They do not have universal meaning and only apply to the immediate job, report, or book. For example there is a species which Terry Gosliner has called in his South African book Glossodoris sp. 4 which in the Forum I have called Glossodoris sp. 1. As long as future workers note where the 'name' is used there is no confusion. And yes calling something Glossodoris sp. 1 does not necessarily mean that the species does not have a species name, it could just mean that I don't know it.

Concerning 'Common names' and 'Local names'. I could be wrong but I think in Japan you have a formal system of giving animals a Japanese language common name. For example when Hamatani described Cyerce kikutarobabai he also gave it the Japanese name Kanoko-urokoumiushi. I think this is unique to Japan. In other countries 'common names' or 'local language names' have either existed for hundreds of years in very small geographic regions, or have been made up quite recently either in local communities, or have been invented by authors or publishers for popular books. In Sydney local divers call Pteraeolidia ianthina the Blue Dragon because they think it looks like the heraldic dragons on Chinese temples, but I don't know of people anywhere else calling it that. I guess the Spanish Dancer for Hexabranchus is one of the few common names which are really common.

I realise this is probably difficult and complicated to follow in English, so if it still puzzles you please don't hesitate to ask again.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jun 8). Comment on RE: What do var, cf. etc mean? by Nishina Chikako. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4533

Factsheet

Sea slug questions

Related messages

  1. Sea slug eats own brain??
    From: Charles Stenholm, March 18, 2010
  2. Sea slug eyes
    From: Erwin Kodiat, January 18, 2007
  3. How many noses does a slug have?
    From: Emma, October 3, 2003
  4. The fastest Sea slug?
    From: J.Van Doorslaer, February 24, 2003
  5. Sea Slugs in general
    From: Rachel Wierenga, September 11, 2002
  6. Need some information
    From: Maria Bernamudez, May 14, 2002
  7. Do nudibranchs taste?
    From: Jeanette McInnes, February 12, 2002
  8. Re: Where do nudibranchs sleep?
    From: Brian Penney, January 31, 2002
  9. Where do nudibranchs sleep?
    From: Jeanette McInnes, January 25, 2002
  10. What does cf mean?
    From: Elianny Dominguez, September 21, 2001
  11. Where do sea slugs live?
    From: Patty, July 17, 2001
  12. What is the family name for the sea slug?
    From: Patrick O'Connor, June 11, 2001
  13. What do var, cf. etc mean?
    From: Nishina Chikako, May 21, 2001
  14. What does 'nudibranch' mean?
    From: David James, April 25, 2001
  15. URGENT QUESTION?
    From: Maggie, April 22, 2001
  16. Are sea slugs harmful to people
    From: Heidi Colonnese, March 10, 2001
  17. What are sea slugs importance to man?
    From: Sarah, January 8, 2001
  18. General information on sea slugs
    From: Nick, December 30, 2000
  19. Nudibranch that eats algae?
    From: Eric Sterns, October 23, 2000
  20. Bubble shell
    From: Jennifer, October 19, 2000
  21. Information about slugs
    From: Kathleen, October 2, 2000
  22. More information on sea slugs
    From: Jennifer & Kate, October 2, 2000
  23. Protection from Dryness
    From: Jacob Benveniste, September 30, 2000
  24. Do nudibranchs have eyes?
    From: Anonymous, May 10, 2000
  25. Re: Nudibranch Information
    From: Anne Dupont, March 15, 2000
  26. Information on adaptations
    From: Ross Sinclair, March 13, 2000
  27. Information on Sea Slugs
    From: M.C.M, March 13, 2000
  28. Information for a School Project
    From: Emilee Bucholz, March 5, 2000
  29. Information for Sigrid, Caroline & Ashlee
    From: Bill Rudman, February 19, 2000
  30. What do they eat?
    From: Samantha , February 16, 2000
  31. How do nudibranchs breathe?
    From: Lillie Hetze, January 21, 2000
  32. How are species recognised?
    From: Nishina Masayoshi, July 4, 1999
  33. Interesting facts about Sea slugs
    From: Hartzell, June 9, 1999
  34. General Habitat
    From: K. Rabinoiwtz, May 24, 1999
  35. Re: Nudibranch questions
    From: Christian Desprez, May 19, 1999
  36. Nudibranch questions
    From: Christian Desprez, May 3, 1999
  37. on rhinophores, cerata, and how many species?
    From: Carlo Magenta, March 15, 1999
  38. Nudibranch info needed
    From: Steve, February 20, 1999
  39. Re: Nudibranch Questions
    From: Beth Kyd, February 16, 1999
  40. Sea Slug questions
    From: Dale Kyd, February 12, 1999
  41. Information on nudibranchs
    From: Ross Tetreault, February 11, 1999
  42. Why study nudibranchs?
    From: Brehan Miller, February 9, 1999
  43. Sea Slug metabolism
    From: Sean Wise, February 5, 1999
  44. Information on Nudibranch biology
    From: Christian Desprez, January 28, 1999
  45. Thanks
    From: Kathie Bryant, December 4, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages