Naming conventions

[Bob I]

In another forum where this should not be discussed, I replied to someone who said that a zoanthid was misnamed. I would like to continue the discussion here because I think this might be the right place.

The point I was trying to make was that the only correct naming convention is by the Latin Binomial, which is given by the person describing the organism. I think anyone who has some background in Natural Sciences would agree.

Now in the case of zoanthids there is no such convention, as only the species has been named. Any colour morphs can be called anything anyone want to call them. No name is any more valid than any other.

A case in point is what some West Coasters call the "Green Bay Packer zoanthid" An equally valid name since the colours are green and yellow is "Edmonton Eskimo zoanthid". Certainly anyone who lives in Edmonton probably prefers that name. The point is that there is no such thing as a misnamed zoanthid.