https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:2694 What's in a name? Common name misuse potentially confounds the conservation of the wild camel Camelus ferus Jemmett, Anna M. Anna M. Jemmett 0000-0002-4696-8266 University of Kent, Ewen, John G. John G. Ewen University of Kent Burger, Pamela A. Pamela A. Burger 0000-0002-6941-0257 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Yadamsuren, Adiya Adiya Yadamsuren Wild Camel Protection Foundation Groombridge, Jim J. Jim J. Groombridge University of Kent Hare, John John Hare University of Kent Cambridge University Press text eng Common names allow species diversity to be acknowledged by experts and non-specialists alike; they are descriptors with both scientific and cultural implications. However, a lack of clarity when using a common name could risk altering perceptions of threatened species. This is the case for the Critically Endangered wild camel Camelus ferus, which, despite extensive evidence of its species status, is frequently referred to in English as wild Bactrian camel. However, the wild camel (Mongolian: khavtgai; Chinese: ye luo tuo) is not a wild version of the domestic Bactrian camel Camelus bactrianus but a separate species near extinction, with an estimated population of c. 950. Failure to clearly separate Bactrian and wild camels in name risks masking the plight of the few remaining wild camels with the visible abundance of the domesticated species. Here we advocate the use of the accurate English common name wild camel for C. ferus ideally alongside its Indigenous names to correctly represent its cultural and conservation importance. Bactrianus; Ancient http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:2694/download 10.1017/S0030605322000114 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Oryx 57 (2022) Oryx 57 386.92 kB 2022