quiz (taxonomy)

[John McNeill]

Dr Muniz's problem has a practical solution, not a strictly
nomenclatural one, and hence applies whether his "species Y" falls under
the botanical or zological Code.

If there is no type, no figure, and insufficient data to identify the
taxon to which author X's name Y applies, then it is impossible to use
Y, and, being unusable, it simply lapses.

Of course if some taxonomic terrorist comes along who "knows" what
author X meant and proceeds to neotypify, there may be a problem, but
both Codes now have mechanisms to deal with such cases if they disturb
existing nomenclature (rejection under Art. 56 of the ICBN and
suppression under the plenary powers of the Commission under the ICZN).

John McNeill

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      John McNeill, Director Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum,
      100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
      Telephone and fax number:  416-586-5744
      e-mail: johnm at rom.on.ca
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: quiz (taxonomy)
Author:  "Luis C. Muniz" <lmuniz at NETGATE.COM.BR> at Internet
Date:    19/11/98 10:31 AM


Dear taxacomers,

I have in hand a good problem:

An author X (in last century) described a species Y, the type is lost and
no type series was made, the description gives no sufficient data with no
figure.

How can we name it ?
species inquirendae, nomem dubium or other ?


Thanks in advance,


Luis C. Muniz
FIOCRUZ
Dept. of Helminthology
Rio de Janeiro - BRASIL