The debate among biologists regarding the renaming of species has intensified in recent years. Much of the discussion has centred around animals and plants named after individuals with controversial or reprehensible pasts. In response, the American Ornithological Society has pledged to change the common names of all bird species in North America that are named after people. Similarly, plant scientists have taken steps towards reform, recently voting to establish a council responsible for reviewing and vetoing potentially offensive names.
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However, the controversy surrounding species names is not limited to historical figures with problematic legacies. Some names contain offensive language or outdated terminology, while others, such as the flesh-footed shearwater, reference physical traits in a manner now considered inappropriate. The bird’s name, derived from the pale colour of its feet, has sparked debate among scientists who question whether the term ‘flesh-footed’ was intended to mean ‘meaty’ or if it was a reference to skin tone.
Dr Alex Bond, Principal Curator in Charge of Birds at the Natural History Museum, supports the notion that the term refers to colour. He notes that John Gould’s original 1844 description of the species strongly suggests this interpretation. Bond compares the issue to past changes in other industries, such as the renaming of Crayola’s ‘flesh’ crayon in the 1960s and the shift towards more inclusive skin-tone plasters.
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For over two decades, Dr Bond and his colleague, Dr Jennifer Lavers, have studied the flesh-footed shearwater (scientific name: Ardenna carneipes) at its nesting colony on Lord Howe Island, off Australia’s eastern coast. Their research has revealed that these seabirds are the most plastic-contaminated species in the world, leading them to describe a new disease, plasticosis. Given their extensive work with the species, Bond and Lavers have proposed renaming the bird. However, their efforts have encountered several challenges, making the shearwater a compelling case study in the complexities of species renaming.
