Undescribed species and the Internet

[W.Wuster]

Richard Pyle wrote:
>
> > Richard, would not this name be invalid in the absence of the designation
> of
> > a type specimen?
>
> I'll leave the detailed answer to the "Code Warriors" [I like that term,
> Jim.... :-) ] -- but I understand that Bill Eschmeyer scrutinized the
> description with a fine-tooth comb, and could find nothing to invalidate it.
> Given Bill's very deep understanding of the ICZN code(a Code Warrior's Code
> Warrior), I have little doubt that the description stands as published, with
> or without a Holotype.

Amazingly, the absolute requirement for a type to be designated only came
in with the 2000 edition of the Zoo Code. Pouyaud's description was
published in 1999, so the absence of a designated type specimen does not
invalidate the description. What this says about the author's work ethics
and the journal's standards needs no further comment...

Cheers,

Wolfgang
--
Dr. Wolfgang Wüster  -  Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences    Tel: +44 1248 382301
University of Wales              Fax: +44 1248 371644
Bangor LL57  2UW                 E-mail: w.wuster at bangor.ac.uk
Wales, UK                        http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/

   Personal homepage: http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/