Fwd: PhyloCode names

[Richard Pyle]

> Or here's a wild hare-brained (or is it hair-brained?) thought:  use the
> preface "Phylo-" for names complying with the
> PhyloCode.  Phylocampanulaceae, Phylolamiaceae, Phylobarnadesiinae,
> Phylophyllanthus ...   Or maybe as a suffix?  Asteriphylum, Lamiphylum,
> Lobeliphylum ....  Hm.  Not too euphonious ...

Damn, Thomas!  You beat me to the punch!  I was just about to ask Philip if
it would be possible to standardize on a single (mandatory) suffix as an
integral part of all PhyloCode names (I would propose a suffix be used
instead of a prefix, for a number of reasons including visual scans of
alphabetical listings).  It seems to me that this would allow the PhyloCode
folks to have their cake, while allowing the more traditional taxonomists to
eat it too.  The current PhyloCode avoids standardized suffixes that
represent rank, but a single, common suffix for all PhyloCode names would
preserve (and indeed emphasize) ranklessness; and would also allow for an
instantaneous, unambiguous distinction from Linnaean names.  It would also
turn a number of opponents of PhyloCode into supporters (or at least
tolerators) - which seems to be what PhyloCode is in most dire need of at
this time (i.e., support/tolerance from the taxonomic community at large).

I agree with Richard Jensen that the suffix "phylum" is not ideal (but for
me it is more for length, than for confusion with the well-known rank).  I
would suggest the suffix "phy" as an option. In any case, it should be
something that is rare or absent from the pool of existing Linnaean names.
Of 66,000+ fish names (of all ranks), I find one genus name that precludes
the prefix "Phylo" (Phylogephyra), and there appears to be at least one
insect genus (Phylocentropus), and genus of polychaet  is actually names
"Phylo". However, there are no fish names (of any rank) with the suffix
"phy".  I also checked the ITIS website for all five kingdoms, and found no
names with a search for "*phy". I didn't find any genera or species names
ending with "phy" on the Species 2000 website, either.

Admittedly, some names might end up being awkward to pronounce, but overall
I think this is an avenue worth pursuing.

Aloha,
Rich

Richard L. Pyle
Ichthyology, Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817
Ph: (808)848-4115, Fax: (808)847-8252
email: deepreef at bishopmuseum.org
"The views expressed are the author's, and not necessarily those of Bishop
Museum."