Undescribed species and the internet

[Ron at]

A couple of colleagues of mine have been working on the description of a
butterfly species for a few years.  This has gone on so long and is so well
known that all the major checklists and books have this listed already as
Celastrina species.  A common name has been put forth long ago and is now
widely referred to.  I am not aware of anyone who doubts that this is a
good species.

Just a couple months ago I strongly encouraged them to finish their formal
description before someone steels it from them.  I think that if someone
just sits on something for years that they have no right to complain if
someone else publishes on what ever it is - subspecies, species, genus etc.
A taxonomic discovery is not equal to personal property.  Especially if
someone else honestly uncovers the same thing about the same time.   It is
the property of science and needs to be formally disseminated to the
scientific community.  Yes, there is certainly such a thing as ethics --
but how long do we wait on chronic procrastinators?  5, 10, 15, 20 years?
I know some people who have been sitting on stuff for literally their whole
life.   One person I have in mind is now in his 70's.  The "plan" was to
publish when retired. Now it seems there is so much to do he doesn't know
where to start.

I think that when a new taxon is found it should be described.  However, it
seems that any number of people like to wait and describe things as part of
a larger revisionary work.  What I don't like about this is 1) that
species/subspecies need to be formalized in the face of rapid world
environmental destabilization and 2) this leads some individuals to view
entire genera or families as their personal domain and everyone else is
expected (by them) to stay away from "their area".

As far as the internet goes, as long as the Codes disallow it, it is just
plain dumb if anyone does describe/name something via the web as
scientifically it means nothing.  Now, on the other hand, if pictures and
general info are put forth on line without and actual name and
"description" it can stimulate more pertinent information on said taxon and
even other research on closely related taxa.    As has been pointed out by
otheres, one just needs to get on with an actual publication and accept the
% of risk of being unscrupulously scooped.

We have given a good bit of pre publication "publicity" on our Yahoo!Groups
butterfly list serve (TILS-leps-talk) to a species about to be published in
a few weeks.  Pictures and info have been posted - but no name nor
description.  This has also only preceded the actual publication by only a
few months.  Also, key info has not been given which makes someone
"steeling" this description highly unlikely.

Ron Gatrelle