pluralseseseses

[Ken Kinman]

     Then there is the taxon "Archaea".   I have seen the singular spelled
archaeum, archaeon, and archaean.   The plural is archaea, but I have seen
archaeans and archaeons (but if I ever see archaeums I think I will become
ill).  The potential confusion with the Archaean geological time period is
obvious (and then there are the adjectival forms).
     Eventually all of this will fade away, and we will call them
metabacteria (singular metabacterium), when the older and more appropriate
taxon name Metabacteria becomes well-known and its purported "archaic"
nature is disproven.  Osawa and Hori knew this 20 years ago, but I don't
look for Woese to admit it anytime soon (if ever).
                    ------Ken Kinman


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com