Latin descriptions

[Rod Seppelt]

In response to Harvey Ballard's request for minimalist descriptions:
While I am not keep on really lengthy descriptions - I have seen a few
beauties that run on for nearly a full two pages of printed text - neither
am I particularly keen on one-liners.  There is a real risk of describing
the differences of a "new" compared to some others - but is the comparison
necessarily the right one.
I would not like to see us go back to the brief descriptions of the late
1700's early 1800's.  It is very difficult to visualise a species from
these descriptions - by far the majority of which lack illustrations.
I do like seeing illustrations, be they photographs or drawings.  At least
it is possible for others to guage what the taxon looks like.

Rod Seppelt



Dr. Rodney D. Seppelt
Principal Research Scientist
Australian Antarctic Division
Channel highway
Kingston 7050, Tasmania, Australia

phone:  International:  +61 (03) 62 323 438
        FAX          :  +61 (03) 62 323 351
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