Sorry not a record but a nomenclature query. I am adding in the Divers > Herons section of EGBR 2010. In the list on here for 2010 the Gt White Egret is Casmerodius albus as in the new Collins, but under that latin name is known as Great Egret, omitting the 'White', as in Collins. However all my other literature has Ardea alba as does the BOU online list, but with the 'White' in the common name. Acc to some online authorities Casmerodius is an old name?. So what shd it be - Great Egret - Casmerodius albus, or Great White Egret - Ardea alba. What we have on here is a mix of the two. TIA.
NB - in the E. Glam list on p.71 of the last report, the species was listed as "Great Egret", so we need to be consistent.
7 comments:
Crikey!
Casmerodius is usually used for the Yanky variety because the behaviour is more intune with the larger Herons.Egretta is applied to the rest,obviously they behave more in an Egret fashion.So on this theory John the latin name should read Egretta Alba.
God only knows the problems i have taxing the marine fauna of Northern Europe,you'd think that it would get simpler,but the more we look,the more differences we find.Names are changing all the time,so consistancy should'nt really matter.
It does raise the question "which Great White Egret are you watching?".
Both the BOU and the AOU have been using Ardea alba since the mid-1990s. Casmerodius has been defunct and side-lined since then and should no longer be used. On the use of English names, all you need to do is be consistent in use of either British English names or international English names. If you use Black-crowned Night Heron instead of Night Heron, then use Great Egret instead of Great White Egret. Same with divers: if you use loon, use Great Egret, if you use diver use GWE. Consistency is most important here - I would go with the British names not the international ones for the EGBR.
Thanks Joek. That all makes sense to me. Will go with A. Alba and GWE.
Sorry, shd have said, that I will go that way if hon Recorder and GRC members agree.
In Birds of Europe (1992) it states Egretta alba. In Sibley (N. America guide, 2000) it is Ardea alba. And in the 1995 revamped Collins it is E. alba. I suggest we go along with Ardea alba and GWE as everyone calls it that.
PS I hope we never go down the 'Loon' road!
Sorry Jake, but the 2nd edition of the new Collins guide (2009) now gives it as Casmerodius! Why not just go with the most up to date BOU list (2010) and use Ardea alba?
Ba: I haven't seen Collins 2009, as suggested by JDW, we use Ardea alba & GWE.
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