Indian Foundation for Butterflies – Butterflies of India

  • Full Screen
  • Wide Screen
  • Narrow Screen
  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
ENGLISH NAMES OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES

SURVEY: ENGLISH NAMES OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES


English (“common”) names were coined for all Indian butterfly species in the early part of the 20th century. Since then, many taxonomic, political and social changes have taken place that have made some English names vague and others taxonomically untenable or politically incorrect and therefore socially unacceptable. As part of my work on Indian butterflies, I am compiling a subspecies-level catalogue of Indian butterflies, in which I wish to revise problematic English names and coin English names for subspecies. This survey will help me do this by taking different views about English names into consideration. All entries will be anonymous so you can be as honest and frank as you like, but please be polite and civil.


Your background


This question is required

  1. How long have you been watching or studying butterflies?

0-2 years
2-5 years
5-10 years
Over 10 years

This question is required

  1. What is your age group?

Under 20 years old
21-30 years old
31-40 years old
41-50 years old
51-60 years old
Over 61 years old

This question is required

  1. What is your level of expertise?

Professional entomologist/lepidopterist
Serious amateur (must have published scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals)
Intermediate-level amateur (has done some work but not published)
Beginner/enthusiast (watch and photograph butterflies, but the breadth of knowledge is modest)

This question is required

  1. What is your area of expertise or work? (select all that apply)

Taxonomy
Ecology and evolution
Conservation
Natural history
No particular focus
Other (specify)


This question is required

  1. What is your country or area of residence/work? (select all that apply)

South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh)
China, Myanmar, Indo-China and SE Asia
Europe, Africa or Australia
The United States of America, Canada and Mexico
Other


About names


This question is required

  1. Do you use English (common) names of butterflies frequently, i.e., as or more often than scientific names?

Yes
No

This question is required

  1. Do you care if English names change as part of a systematic revision to align names with taxonomic changes that have taken place in the past few decades, and with modern social norms?

Yes, I do not want the names to change as I am comfortable with the current names
Yes, I would like to see English names follow recent taxonomic changes and social norms
Yes and no: I would like names changed in case of offensive names (e.g., Nigger, Coon, and Great Darkie), but otherwise I like names to remain the same even if they are inaccurate
I do not care either way; I either do not use English names or do not mind changes/stasis in English names as I do not think they are important enough for my time

This question is required

  1. English names usually follow certain patterns. They may reflect distinctive features or overall coloration of the species, its status, the distributional range, type locality, taxonomists who described the species or persons in whose honor the species were named, or peculiarity of the species/group, among other things. Do you prefer English names in the order:

Distinctive characters > peculiarity > status
Distribution > status
Others (specify)


This question is required

  1. Do you support the idea of following some logical rules in retaining or changing English names? For example, older or much more widespread English names should be given preference over newer or little-known English names if both the names are technically correct or socially acceptable.

Sounds like a good idea
I don’ think English names are amenable to logic, so there is no need for this; or I don’t care
I think names should be changed if needed for whatever reason while disregarding historical norms if that is going to make names better in the long term

This question is required

  1. Most Indian butterfly subspecies currently do not have English names. Do you like the idea of coining English names for subspecies?

Yes, since subspecies are valid taxonomic units and they are used widely in scientific and conservation studies, having English names for subspecies will be useful in general and I will use those names when talking to lay people or beginners
No, I do not see the need for subspecies-level English names, and I will not use these names
I may support it if a good case is made
I don’t care if people coin English names for subspecies and if others start using them

This question is required

  1. Do you know that subspecies have been given English names in case of many birds, mammals and butterflies in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and that these names are in common use?

Yes
No, but I am not surprised
No, and I am surprised!

This question is required

  1. Scientific names can be very long or short, and scientists are usually comfortable with them irrespective of the length of the names. It’s a matter of practice and coming to terms with the needs for longer names, e.g., when trinomial names (Genus species subspecies) are used. Are you comfortable with the idea of having slightly longer names for subspecies if they serve a purpose and are logical?

I would not mind long English names (three to four words long) if they convey information about the subspecies
I would not mind long English names if they are intuitive or self-explanatory
I do not like long English names, no matter what purpose they serve. Short names are easy to remember
Other


Optional: your detailed feedback


  1. Please feel free to submit your detailed feedback if you like. If you wish to do so, please include your thoughts, name and email below. I may contact you to discuss your opinions and suggestions further if they are useful in my work.

    2. ( Optional )



Thank you for participating in this survey, I appreciate your input.

Cite this page along with its URL as:
Kunte, K. 2012. Survey: English names of Indian butterflies. In Kunte, K., S. Kalesh and U. Kodandaramaiah (eds.). Butterflies of India. v. 1.05. Indian Foundation for Butterflies.



You are here: Home