The best snippet I can add here is this, go back thru the Conch-L archives.
the discussion of common names was extensive and covered more then a week.
any great points were made and in summing up what was discussed we can now
say that there are four topics that shouldn't be brought up in mixed company
, Sex, Religion,politics or common names .Mark & Peta  Bethke
Hollywood, Florida
-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah R. Watson <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, August 03, 1998 5:29 PM
Subject: Re common names
 
 
>          I am a sophmore in college and my great love is studying the
ecology
>of gastropods.  Most of what I have leaned about mollusks has been self
>taught. I read shell guides by the hour trying to learn the names of the
>various snails that are in the many books. I am most often using
"Compendium
>Of Seashells" by Abbott and Wagner  and The Peterson field guide "Shells Of
>The Atlantic, Gulf Coasts and West Indies" by Abbott and Morris as my basic
>guides to learn these names. I have noticed that all the species named in
the
>Peterson guide have common names. Have you seen or read this book? If so
have
>you noticed if the common names used in this edition are correct or
>acceptable. Most people that I am in contact with do not use the latin
names
>and because of my surroundings  I am only just now learning the latin
names.
>Do you think that the two books I am currently using are good for
scientific
>research. If not could you recommend a few. My work is currently in the
>Caribbean province and in the Southern Carolinian province.  Thank you.
>
>Sincerely
>  Sarah Watson
>