lectotype rule explained

Nieukerken, E.J. van Nieukerken at NATURALIS.NNM.NL
Fri Jan 26 12:18:44 CST 2001


Sorry for cross-posting, I just send this to Entomo-L as well:

I do not think that lectotypes should only be selected in mixed series.
In insects we usually use genitalia as important characters. By designating
a lectotype we can fix the identity to the sex with the best characters and
to a very well preserved specimen with a well prepared genitalia slide.
Usually we do not prepare all the syntypes, and theoretically some specimens
may have different genitalia. There are too many sibbling species to assume
that we cannot overlook them. Another thing is that we might want to choose
a reared specimen in case of host specific insects.
Lectotype designation also gives an indication to the curator that this
specimen and this slide are to be treated with more than special caution.

If there is for instance a long series of syntypes, but unfortunately only 1
male and 30 females (this happens!), than a curator may not be aware of
this, and easily lend out the single male as easily as any of them (we have
still 29 syntypes here...). If the male is lost, and this species is not
well diagnosed in the female we have a problem..
So in my opinion still the best professional way for a taxonomist revising a
group is to designate a lectotype for each species.

Anyway, the article is so unclear that we can continue to do so, with some
short explanation.

Erik van Nieukerken

        -----Original Message-----
        From:   Mick Webb [SMTP:mew at NHM.AC.UK] <mailto:[SMTP:mew at NHM.AC.UK]>


        tidying-up. My own view is then, that in order to follow the
'spirit' of
        the Code we should NOT just repeat a favourite statement after each
        designation to satisfy the rule (as some have suggested). Rather, we
should
        ask the question: is the identity of this taxon in doubt (if the
syntype
        series
        is retained as the name-bearing type)? If not, don't designate. For
        most of us we will be treating the species in a revision and
        its identity will be taken from that work. So, in most cases we can
continue
        with a syntype or syntypic series as the name bearing type. Where
there is
        a REAL taxonomic (not nomenclatorial) reason for designating a
lectotype
        e.g. a mixed type series, then we should do so, and give the reason.
In other
        words, when a problem arises, then we designate, rather than
pre-empting a
        hypothetical possibility of a problem in the future.


Erik J. van Nieukerken

curator of Entomology (Microlepidoptera + Arachnida et al.)/
editor Tijdschrift voor Entomologie

National Museum of Natural History Naturalis
dep. of Entomology
PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands

[street address: Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden]

direct phone: +31-71-56 87 682 (secretary ..622)
fax:      +31-71-5687666
e-mail:  nieukerken at nnm.nl <mailto:nieukerken at nnm.nl>




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