Nature Note #129: Common Animal Misnomers

As I sit in my parent's kitchen having just returned from Pennsylvania for the winter, I'm thinking back on some of my teaching experiences that I've had over the past year or so and remembering the names children will give to certain animals. I mentioned one of these in post #125 when I was talking about what bugs were common in Pennsylvania during the fall.

These would be the Common True Katydids (Pterophylla camellifolia) that the kids call "leafbugs". They're not wrong as they do look like a leaf has spawned legs and beady little eyes. But despite being named for something else entirely (the name Katydid is allegory about a girl who refused to tell the truth about something and suffered dire consequences as a result), but this other name suits them just as well.

Another insect that springs to mind is the water strider (Gerridae) which is often misnamed as the "water spider". However, according to a quick glance on Wikipedia, they are called a whole host of other names including "water skeeter", "water skippers", "water bugs", and "Jesus bugs". They are so named based on their ability to "walk" on water. This is achieved based on their hydrophobic leg hairs which repel water which in turn prevents them breaking the surface tension that produces a thin film on the water's surface.

The hairs on the legs also increase the overall surface area the insect stands on. This allows the formation of the dips seen in the water's surface in the photos above and below.

For a while, I was under the impression that the kids were confusing an actual species of fishing spider (Dolomedes spp.) that can be found in the streams where we did our stream surveys. They would usually startle some of the students by darting out from under the rocks in search of a new hiding place. They were a treat to see nonetheless. Despite this, it might have been that they were seeing the striders and simply using another name for them. The reason I emphasis the use of the "strider" over "spider" as they are two different groups of creatures with different numbers of body parts, legs, eyes, and different methods of hunting.

Finally the last creature that seems to be misnamed wherever I go is the garter snake (Thamnophis spp.). Every child I've ever met calls them either "garden" or "gardener" snakes. It's a nice image though. A little snake in a sunhat working a garden bed and pondering how it's going to dig a hole for its plants.

"Oh bother, I knew evolving without arms would lead to this..."

I think there is a confusion about their name for two reasons. One is that it is a word that isn't used as much in our modern world (if you're going by the definition I'm using). Probably the last time anyone mentioned garters (other than in that funny scene between Ewan McGregor and David Hyde Pierce in "Down With Love") was in reference to using those little straps that were used to hold up socks back in the late 50s and into the 60s. The other thing it refers to is the similar apparatus used in garter belts and stocking suspenders. One never knew nature could get so racy!

But why would you give a snake a name like that? The answer is quite simple if you've ever looked at a garter snake up close. The different species have a wide range of patterns and designs on their backs and come in a variety of colors.

All garter snake photos are from Wikipedia

On a final note, I think garden snake might be a better name for kids to remember, but one can't deny that they do look fabulous in their differing patterns and colors. So hopefully that clears up some more misconceptions about these easily misnamed animals. If I or anyone else thinks there is an animal I left out, please let me know in the comments below.