An Inclusive Litany

5/19/01

The Committee on Names of Fishes, a seven-member joint committee of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and the American Fisheries Society, recommended changing the common name of Ephinephelus itajara from "jewfish," since that might be considered offensive. However, the new name they recommend, "Goliath grouper," is inexplicably named after a Philistine famous for killing Jews.