what becomes of "kleptotypes" if the holotype is destroyed?

[Jason at]

As long as the material is usable for identification then it is the defacto
holotype (since it was a fragment of the original hootype). Otherwise the
holotype is lost and another one needs to be found/ designated. I don't see
much confusion in this other than determining if the remaining material has
any use or not. Unfortunately this situation happens all too often,
frequently in circumstances similar to the example provided by Ms Bankworth,
so this question is of general interest.

Cheers

Jason


>From: Mary Barkworth <Mary at BIOLOGY.USU.EDU>
>Reply-To: Mary Barkworth <Mary at BIOLOGY.USU.EDU>
>To: Subject: Re: [TAXACOM] what becomes of "kleptotypes" if the holotype is
>              destroyed?
>Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 17:26:50 -0700
>
>Personally I hate to think of a fragment becoming more that a kleptotype
>but I suppose it may indeed be the holotype.  If an insect ate all but a
>small fragment of a holotype the bit of specimen that remains would
>still presumably be considered the holotype. The most desirable
>situation would be for it to be possible to locate a more adequate
>specimen, possibly a duplicate of the holotype, in another institution.
>The Code, as I recall has recommendations for selecting neotypes. Would
>designation of a neotype in the circumstances Thomas outlines be
>permitted under the Code?
>
>For me it is a hypothetical question, at least for now.

_________________________________________________________________
The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail