Allotypes

[Thomas Pape]

At 18.27 1996-02-26 -1000, Neal Evenhuis wrote:
>On Tue, 27 Feb 1996, Steve Shattuck wrote:
>
>> Yes, yes, I know, I know.  Syntypes can't become holotypes.
>
>Ah yes, but due to the elegant magic of the ICZN Zoological Code (Art.
>74b), holotypes CAN become lectotypes!

Syntypes MAY actually become holotypes (ICZN: 72d), but not of the nominal
taxon for which they are syntypes.

As for allotypes in the type collection, it is my experience that more and
more allotypes are being taken OUT of the type collection.

We need name-bearing (or primary) types to fix the identities of our nominal
species-group taxa - an objective standard of reference. Under this
typological species-concept, allotypes as such cannot contribute to
nomenclatural stability.

Thomas Pape


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Thomas Pape
Department of Entomology
Swedish Museum of Natural History       Voice: +46 8666 4094
Box 50007                               Fax:   +46 8666 4099
S - 104 05 Stockholm, SWEDEN            e-mail: en-thomas at nrm.se

Web-address:       http://www.nrm.se/en/pape.htm
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