It's all in the Name
|
What is the name of this crustacean?
|
 |
All of the answers are correct! The pill bug (as some would chose to call it) is called by many different common names. We use common names because they are easier for us to remember and easier for us to pronounce and understand. There are over 10,000 species of isopods. And if we were to see any of them, we would probably call them by one of the names listed above. However, scientists realized that it is important to have a name for each species that is universal. They need to have a separate name for each species. They needed to have a system of naming organisms that works for all languages. They chose to use the Genus and then the species of the organism for its scientific name. The scientific name of this isopod is Armadillidium vulgare. They are about 17 millimetres long. The gray body has platelike segments. When disturbed, the pill bug rolls itself up into a tiny ball. They are found in dry, sunny places, in leaf litter, on the edges of wooded areas and under rocks. Does this sound like the pill bug that you played with as a child?
Another example:
the mountain lion, cougar and puma are all common names for the same animal.
The name you decide to use probably depends on where you live. However,
its scientific name is Felis concolor.
Visit the Utah
State 7th Grade Integrated Science Core Curriculum Page.
Updated
August 27, 2001
by: Glen Westbroek
Science Home Page
| Curriculum Home Page | Core
Home Page | USOE Home Page
Copyright © Utah State Office of Education.