Common names, in contrast to scientific names, are not exclusive.
Therefore, using common names can cause misunderstandings regarding the animal being referred to and its relationships to other animals.
Example: Badgers
Although they are all called badgers and they are all members of the same mammalian family, they are not each other’s closest relatives. There are various animals worldwide that are superficially similar.
- Honey badgers (Mellivora capensis)
- North American badgers (Taxidea taxus)
- Eurasian badgers (Meles meles)
- Stink badgers (Mydaus javanensis)
- Ferret badgers (Melogale personata)