What does "sp." mean?

Hi,

in looking on-line at lists and pictures of cichlids I often see names
such as 'Haplchromis adolphifrederici' mixed with things like
'Haplochromis sp. "Hippo Pointe" ' or ' Haplochromis sp. "Flameback"
'.

Can anyone explain what the abbreviation 'sp.' means in this context?
My taxonomy is insufficient.

TIA,

Ninereeds

On 27 Jul 2004 10:04:23 -0700, (Ninereeds)
wrote:


Can anyone explain what the abbreviation 'sp.' means in this context?

species


Steve
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" sp. " is the abbreviation for "species". It's also used when talking
about a member of a certain genus when the species isn't known or the
species are very similar. Using a genus name followed by " sp. " is like
saying it's a Ford car instead of a Mustang.

Example: Firemouths are included in Thorichthys sp. ,
and their full Latin name is Thorichthys meeki .

Limnophile

"Ninereeds" wrote in message
om...
Hi,
snip
Can anyone explain what the abbreviation 'sp.' means in this context?
My taxonomy is insufficient.

TIA,

Ninereeds

wrote in message . ..
On 27 Jul 2004 10:04:23 -0700, (Ninereeds)
wrote:


Can anyone explain what the abbreviation 'sp.' means in this context?

species


Thanks Steve, although I am still a bit confused.

I thought the sequence went:

...... family, genus, species.

In which case an Electric Yellow would be :

Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Labidochromis
Species: Caeruleus

So, in the case of Haplochromis sp. "Flameback", does it mean that
there is no latin name for that particular species?

Thanks again,

Ninereeds

On 27 Jul 2004 19:14:33 -0700, (Ninereeds)
wrote:

Thanks Steve, although I am still a bit confused.

I thought the sequence went:

..... family, genus, species.

In which case an Electric Yellow would be :

Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Labidochromis
Species: Caeruleus

So, in the case of Haplochromis sp. "Flameback", does it mean that
there is no latin name for that particular species?


That's it. They are using the common name to suggest it is a unique
species rather than a subspecies or variety of a known species.

Steve

Hi Steve,


That's it. They are using the common name to suggest it is a unique
species rather than a subspecies or variety of a known species.

Ah, makes sense.

Is such a name universal, or does someone decide to use it and hope
that it catches on?

Thanks,

Ninereeds

Hi "Limnophile",

Example: Firemouths are included in Thorichthys sp. ,
and their full Latin name is Thorichthys meeki .

So is 'Thorichthys sp. Firemouth' the same as 'Thorichthys meeki'? Or
are Firemouths a subset of meeki?

Thanks,

Ninereeds

"Ninereeds" wrote in message
om...
Hi "Limnophile",

Example: Firemouths are included in Thorichthys sp. ,
and their full Latin name is Thorichthys meeki .

So is 'Thorichthys sp. Firemouth' the same as 'Thorichthys meeki'? Or
are Firemouths a subset of meeki?

Thanks,

Ninereeds

The fish commonly called Firemouths have the species name Thorichthys meeki.
They are different names for the same fish.

meeki is a subset of Thorichthys. When a common name is mentioned in a
scientific article, it's customary to put the common name in quotation
marks, like "Firemouth"

Written as Thorichthys sp. "Firemouth" , it's the same as Thorichthys meeki
, practically speaking. Scientists might nit - pick and insist on the
latter, which is the more proper Latin name. Most experienced pet store
people or hobbyists will know what you mean if you use either.

It can be written as T. meeki after you mention the full Latin name, so you
don't have to type out the whole thing over and over.

Glad to help;
Limnophile