Dan,
 
in reading about Japanese names, would I be right in assuming that gai at
the end of the names is the part that means shell?
 
It's great to see all of those translations,  I might even be lucky enough
to use them,  I have a Japanese pen freind.
 
Sher
 
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> From: Dan Yoshimoto <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Common names from Latin genera -Reply
> Date: Wednesday, 29 April 1998 14:49
>
> >Interesting thought Andrew - it brings up the question "what exactly
> >constitutes a common name?"  Before I say anything else, let me say
> >that my comments on common names will necessarily refer to english
> >common names, because that is my mindset.  I do realize that the same
> >shell I call a nutmeg or a jewelbox or an auger may have quite
> >different names in German or Spanish or Japanese, and those names may
> >or may not have any relevance to the english names.  In fact, it might
> >be interesting to hear some of the common names which apply in other
> >languages for species in some of the common families.  Anyway, in
> >reading Andrew's post, it struck me that Nautilus is clearly a common
> >name (in english), and is also a genus name.  There is no other common
> >english name for the animals in this genus.  Likewise for Octopus.
> >The names Unio, Chiton, and Murex are used similarly, though, unlike
> >Nautilus, they are used to describe species in a number of related
> >genera, not just the specific genus used as the name.  Some very old
> >books may refer to Murex as rock shells, but that name is pretty
> >nearly obsolete now as a general term.  In modern usage it applies
> >only to the subfamily Thaidinae (Thais, Purpura, Nucella, etc.).  So,
> >Murex, it seems, would qualify as an accepted common name.  On the
> >other hand, I am not as sure that Pecten qualifies as a common name.
> >Certainly a majority of collectors refer to members of the family
> >Pectinidae as "Pectens".  But we also speak of cowries as "Cypraeas"
> >and nutmegs as "Cancellarias".  Do Cypraea and Cancellaria qualify as
> >common names?  If not, why Pecten?  After all, there is the english
> >term "scallop" for the same group of animals.  Just offering a few
> >ideas here for consideration - when does a genus name qualify as a
> >common name?  Is it only when no other common name exists?  That
> >probably is not a good definition, as there are many families of
> >mollusks that have no common names at all, and by that definition
> >names like Trochomorpha and Stiliger would become common names.
> >Of course, there are many cases where the common name is a
> >translation of the genus name, or is at least directly derived from
> >it -  Nerite from Nerita; Olive from Oliva; Volute from Voluta; Cone
> >from Conus; Miter from Mitra; Tellin from Tellina; etc.  But this is
> >not quite the same as using the actual unadulterated genus name as
> >the common name.
> >
> >Paul Monfils
>
> Paul,
> My wife is Japanese and you're right; the common names in other cultures
> are very different.  Here are a few English translations for Japanese
> families:
> Conidae=Imogai=Yam shell,  Cypraeidae=Takaragai=Treasure shell,
> Ischitonidae=Hizaragai= Pleat shell,  Arcidae=Funegai=Boat shell,
> Ficidae=Ichigigugai=Fig shell(the same),  Naticidae=Tamagai=Ball shell,
> Terebridae=Takenokogai=Bamboo Shoot shell,
> Fasciolariidae=Itomakiboragai=Spool shell,  Acmaeidae=Kasagai= Umbrella
> shell, Dentaliidae= Sunogai=Horn shell Architectonicidae=Kurumagai=Wheel
> shell,  Trochidae=Uzugai=Whirlpool shell,  Mitridae=Fudegai=Writing Brush
> shell, Olividae=Makuragai=Pillow shell,   Pinnidae=Hokigai=Broom shell,
> Haliotidae = Mimigai=Ear shell(for Daniel Geiger).  Those are just a few.
> My wife suggests the following books and authors:  Marine Shell-Bearing
> Mollusks, Okutani,(Japanese), Japanese Shells, Habe,(Japanese), Colored
> Illustrations of Japanese Shells, Kira (Japanese), Japanese Shells,
> Kosuge,(Japanese).  There are more spefic shell names for species in the
> family, such as the Pecten Murex(Murex troschelli)= Honegai= Bone shell.
>         I'm sure that you will find interesting common names from many
> cultures.  It's the nature of the beast.  We all think that shells remind
> us of something else.  If you ask around on the Conch-L list serv, I'm
sure
> you'll get some interesting answers.  Good luck.  Say Hi to Kay Peterson
> for us.
>         Dan & Hiromi Yoshimoto
>
>
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>
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> Dan & Hiromi Yoshimoto
> 1164 Vista Dr.
> Eureka, California
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