# Taxonomic names to be revised, because racism **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2024, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455 "2024-07-19T09:57:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/121 "2024-07-26T01:23:10Z")
Good ones. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/122 "2024-07-26T02:27:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Ulfreida](#): > > > > Thing is, the only people who use Latin nomenclature are specialists in those fields. > > Okay for everyone here- > Western lowland gorilla=_Gorilla gorilla gorilla_ And _gorilla_ isn’t really descriptive; it’s a reference to an old Carthaginian legend. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/123 "2024-07-26T03:23:00Z")
I have been known to cry out, “Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus!” but only when appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/124 "2024-07-26T05:02:42Z")
Many, many minerals are only known from one or a _very_ limited set of localities. And can only be distinguished from others that are identical-looking in the field on the basis of lab-based geochemical testing. That’s if you could even see them in the field - many minerals are only known from microscopic-sized samples. So it’s not unusual for someone to point a [microprobe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_microprobe#Mineralogy_and_petrology) or similar machine at a sample and find something new. There’s a good discussion here that goes into more detail , if you’re interested: > **[Re: Minerals to be found in only one location](https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=79910)** > > I've tried to assemble a list of minerals to be found in only one locality or region (strictly one). I've also checked on Mindat. For sure there must be many more. Please add if you know others. > Of course there are many more minerals known from 2-3... ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/125 "2024-07-26T11:14:04Z")
Please tell me her epitaph reads “I got a rock.” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/126 "2024-07-26T17:10:08Z")
Utterly fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/128 "2024-07-27T00:24:05Z")
For awhile, my oldest sister wanted to change her name to Metasequoia glyptostroboides. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/129 "2024-07-27T01:49:04Z")
James Tiptree, Jr.'s daughter named herself “Marmot” IIRC. Metasequoia has a nice ring to it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/130 "2024-07-27T07:09:43Z")
When my daughter was about 5 or 6, she announced she wanted to change her name to ‘Hollyhock’ (after I told her the name of the plant she had been admiring). I immediately started calling her Hollyhock. She changed her mind after about 10 minutes but I carried on calling her that for the rest of the day, arguing that you’re only allowed to change your name one time. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/131 "2024-07-27T07:14:47Z")
> [@susan](#): > > James Tiptree, Jr.'s daughter To pick nits- it was _Alice Bradley Sheldon’s_ daughter. James Tiptree, Jr is an imaginary person. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/132 "2024-07-27T10:29:37Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > When my daughter was about 5 or 6, she announced she wanted to change her name to ‘Hollyhock’ At least she didn’t rename herself Hollyhock Manheim-Mannheim-Guerrero-Robinson-Zilberschlag-Hsung-Fonzerelli-McQuack. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/133 "2024-07-27T11:12:46Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > When my daughter was about 5 or 6, she announced she wanted to change her name to ‘Hollyhock’ (after I told her the name of the plant she had been admiring). I immediately started calling her Hollyhock. She changed her mind after about 10 minutes but I carried on calling her that for the rest of the day, arguing that you’re only allowed to change your name one time. When my daughter was in first grade, there was a girl in her class who wanted to change her name to ChickenWing. My daughter was aghast, she couldn’t believe how bad the girl was. I discussed the situation with her and pointed out that calling her ChickenWing wasn’t really a big ask. She started calling her ChickenWing, and a few other classmates followed suit. ChickenWing was pleased, but the teacher was pissed off. Then ChickenWing stopped coming to school, eventually getting placed into an alternative school for kids like ChickenWing. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/134 "2024-07-27T11:20:02Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > James Tiptree, Jr is an imaginary person. James Tiptree Jr was a pen name, not an imaginary person. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/135 "2024-07-27T12:47:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Brontosaurus has been back since 2015. Well, they better not stomp around in my flower garden, or I’ll spray them with my Dino-repellent! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/136 "2024-07-27T12:48:51Z")
And Sheldon also called herself “Racoona”, so naming oneself after small mammals was already an established family tradition. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/137 "2024-07-27T14:27:44Z")
Anyone who dubs themself Raccoona Sheldon has to be someone special. I’ve only read one short story by her, but it made a deep impression: The Women Men Don’t See. Told from the completely convincing perspective of a male narrator. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/138 "2024-07-27T14:52:01Z")
Most of her stories seem to be about gender relations, in one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/139 "2024-07-27T18:56:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > James Tiptree Jr was a pen name, not an imaginary person. Right? I believe the entire biography supplied was accurate. It just kind of left out the pronouns. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/140 "2024-07-27T20:18:46Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > James Tiptree Jr was a pen name, not an imaginary person. Right? Same difference. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455/141 "2024-07-28T17:39:29Z")
There’s a difference. An imaginary person is wholly invented. A pseudonym or pen name is just a false name for a real person. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxonomic-names-to-be-revised-because-racism/1004455.md?page=8)