Biologists are a cheeky lot, and their latest Twitter joke is a doozy. They’re making fun of animals with nonsensical common names.
Common names are exactly what they sound like: The names of animals people are more familiar with, different from their scientific or species name. For example, a cat’s common name is a cat, obviously. Its scientific name is Felis catus. Only sometimes the names we call creatures are pretty silly.
Shark researcher and blogger David Shiffman decided to get the ball rolling on this latest hashtag on Tuesday afternoon.
Ok scientists & naturalists, it’s time for a new hashtag game. #StupidCommonNames . List animals with stupid common names. Photos encouraged
— Dr. David Shiffman 🦈 (@WhySharksMatter) September 1, 2015
And in the last couple hours, the hilarious tweets have swelled to a cacophony. Here’s a list of our favorites.
https://twitter.com/mcmsharksxx/status/638815927216115712
https://twitter.com/mcmsharksxx/status/638817190473367553
https://twitter.com/mcmsharksxx/status/638818007507070976
https://twitter.com/Baroque97/status/638818221236224001
The first line of EVERY guidebook entry on the Prairie Warbler: NOT FOUND ON PRAIRIES. #StupidCommonNames pic.twitter.com/39QEP7OCD2
— Quarantino Valmateo (@BadHg21) September 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/r_heisman/status/638818970540216320
Slippery dick. #StupidCommonNames https://t.co/mURgYSzjcQ pic.twitter.com/EpMl3LVzQr
— Milton Tan (@mtanichthys) September 1, 2015
This spotted shark is called a “zebra shark” because shut up #StupidCommonNames pic.twitter.com/Urbvf9cedM
— Dr. David Shiffman 🦈 (@WhySharksMatter) September 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/jgold85/status/638822070734864384
Ok #stupidcommonnames. How about the 40+ common names used for #mountainlion: puma, catamount, cougar, panther…can we just pick one?
— Kathy Zeller, PhD 🐾 (@kzeller) September 1, 2015
Elephantnose fish are named for… their chin… #StupidCommonNames Img by billycorgan84 https://t.co/af9eAAdbkh pic.twitter.com/3VYKvJLCGh
— Milton Tan (@mtanichthys) September 1, 2015
Chilean Sea Bass. Because chefs couldn’t sell Patagonian Toothfish. #StupidCommonNames pic.twitter.com/fQi3hz0HLc
— Justin Alcorn (@JaBbA64) September 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/afewbugs/status/638823297052901376
Yet to see a fox with one of these on each paw, but that would look awesome! #StupidCommonNames pic.twitter.com/eS3QKBmlLl
— Columbia (@whitesky60) September 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/afewbugs/status/638824086341201924
https://twitter.com/RosemaryMosco/status/638824122147975168
This shark with six gills and a big eye? That’s, uh, a bigeye sixgill shark. #StupidCommonNames pic.twitter.com/QhCuFJiypF
— Dr. David Shiffman 🦈 (@WhySharksMatter) September 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/jgold85/status/638825184514846720
The chicken turtle is, in fact, just a turtle and not a chicken at all. #StupidCommonNames #TurtleWithFeathers
— Leah Crane (@DownHereOnEarth) September 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/mcmsharksxx/status/638825348109463552
A zoo volunteer told me “that kangaroo-like animal in the tree? That’s a tree kangaroo” #StupidCommonNames #TrueStory
— Dr. David Shiffman 🦈 (@WhySharksMatter) September 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/afewbugs/status/638826077599563776
Don’t even get me started on bushtits… #StupidCommonNames pic.twitter.com/c5w7nwwOAM
— Golden Slippers (@GSBirding) September 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/soundslikepuget/status/638826570883334144
https://twitter.com/SFriedScientist/status/638826622527799297
https://twitter.com/mcmsharksxx/status/638827968807079936
https://twitter.com/HaxleyVigil/status/638828600574083076
I mean, if you’re gonna be a tit, be a great tit! #StupidCommonNames pic.twitter.com/uVPpSma1IE
— Golden Slippers (@GSBirding) September 1, 2015
Sea Cucumbers don’t taste anything like a cucumber. #StupidCommonNames
— Amy (@bunnyhugger75) September 1, 2015
California Thrasher doesn’t skateboard or listen to heavy metal #stupidcommonnames (Photo by Jamie Chavez) pic.twitter.com/el367n2NrA
— Audubon California (@AudubonCA) September 1, 2015
Blue footed booby. Oh wait, that one’s actually awesome. #bluefootedbutnotabooby #StupidCommonNames pic.twitter.com/A498fSukUG
— Juliet Slutzker (@JMSlutzker) September 1, 2015
The Brown Creeper is generally quite respectful of personal boundaries. #StupidCommonNames
— Kingfisher & Wombat (@UrsulaV) September 1, 2015
Gardner Snakes never help me in the garden. #StupidCommonNames
— Amy (@bunnyhugger75) September 1, 2015
White-spotted sea goddess. Sure, it’s pretty, but that name is a bit presumptuous… it’s a slug. #StupidCommonNames pic.twitter.com/TzJfZqVIK5
— Alison Young (@alisonkestrel) September 1, 2015
Birdbeak dogfish. Although it has an elongated snout, it doesn’t look or function as a beak. #StupidCommonNames pic.twitter.com/g5wHt1AdOj
— Shark Devocean (@SharkDevocean) September 1, 2015
Image via Marshmallowbunnywabbit/Wikimedia (CC BY 3.0)
