ALLOTYPE 2

[Yuri P. Nekrutenko]

Dear Taxacomers,
it is my strong impression that the message below have been lost while
sending through the network last time, so I decided to repeat it.
Sorry for this obtrusiveness.
Please accept apologies whether this action is unjustified. - Y. N.

     Normal  human logic  stands  in   a certain controversy with the "sole
    name bearing type" concept as accepted in all versions of  the ICZN. In
    fact, the  elementary   unit of  the   real species   group taxon  is a
    reproductively effective couple (a  conjugal)  which provides the  only
    test for   their conspecificity. In  order to escape possible confusion
    is it not better to legalize allotype under  ICZN mandatory  provisions
    under one absolute condition: it should be demonstrably  collected  _in
    copula_ with holotype. This  will minimize  possibility  that  it  will
    represent an  another,  different from the holotype species group taxon
    (though sodomy  time  to  time   occurs in   Lepidoptera).  A  proposed
    definition follows:

     _Allotype_  - is  a  name-bearing  specimen  of   opposite sex to  the
    holotype demonstrably collected with it in copula and designated as such.

     This "in flagranti" approach is hoped to be of some use for  stability
    and universality of zoological nomenclature  and to  be a reliable tool
    for taxonomy.

     Regards.

     Yuri P. Nekrutenko
     Institute of Zoology
     UA-252601 Kiev 30, MSP
     U K R A I N E
     e-mail: ypnekrut at mbat.freenet.kiev.ua