List of popular names for Brazilian rodents (Mammalia: Rodentia)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Binomial nomenclature in Latin is used to name species, allowing communication between scientists but not with the general public. We compiled popular names in Portuguese, Spanish, and English for the rodent species that occur in Brazil, revealing a large gap in Portuguese, where 11.5% of the species do not have common names, or they share a same name, as 66 of the Echimyidae (“toró”), and 57 of the Cricetidae species (“rato-do-mato”). In contrast, almost all species have common names in English, which are generally unique. To highlight the importance of ecosystem services that rodents provide to society, it is essential to provide common names in the local language where the species was described.

Keywords

• Common name
• popularization of science
• Rodentia
• vernacular name