Why are scientific names important for animals and plants?

Answer 1

common names cause confusion they dont have scientfic basis. as there are number of common names for a single specie. or one name can be reffered to different specie. scientific names are known and accepted through out the world. they give us scientific basis and eleminate the confusion

Answer 2

The scientific names allows all scientists to be able to identify the specific animal. For instance, the mountain lion may also be called by puma, cougar, panther, etc. By calling it Felis concolor, which is its scientific name, scientists are easily able to identify what it is, regardless of its local name.

Answer 3

Scientific names are important as they help scietists avoid confusion. Different species maybe called by the same name in different places. For example the American flounder and the British flounder are different species with the same common name.

Scientifically speaking, biological classification serves two main purposes: 1) a basis for generalization in comparative studies and, 2) an information storage system. Linnaean binomial nomenclature is thus merely an expression of current ideas about how this or that organism can be grouped with others, a kind of short-hand that allows taxonomists to discuss a 'work in progress'. The species is the lowest ranking taxon and the only 'natural' one (for the moment, I will sidestep the complicating fact that even experts often do not agree on what, exactly, a species is); all larger taxa are arbitrary and thus subject to change based on new information and how experts interpret their meaning. Ideally, the taxonomic ranking of a given species reflects its phylogenetic interrelationships with other organisms. But this is difficult to do in practice.

Answer 4

Common names given to animals and plants are often different depending on where you are in the country. Also, several common names can sometimes be used. A scientific name is officially accepted by the scientific world, and is the same name everywhere.