The Skeptics Society & Skeptic magazine

Episode 131
Naming Monsters

Ben Frable (photos ©2011 Josh Schaedel Photography)

What’s in a name? More than you might imagine, if you’re a scientist trying to officially name a new species. In this episode of MonsterTalk, we talk to Ichthyologist Ben Frable about the process (and many challenges) of scientifically identifying and naming new species.

Benjamin Frable is an Ichthyologist and is the Collection Manager of the Marine Vertebrate Collection at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.

Frable will be on a featured panel of scientists at Comic Con San Diego 2017 on the influence of science on sci-fi and vice versa.

Of Interest

• Frable’s scholarly articles
• International Code of Nomenclature (Fungi/Plants)
• International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Animals)

Featured: goblin shark, oarfish (behind Ben), Bathysaurus, a Sarcastic Fringehead, white shark jaw and a stonefish (© Scripps Institution of Oceanography)

Music

• Monstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Stealing Monkeys

The views expressed on this program are not necessarily the views of the Skeptics Society or Skeptic magazine.