Too many cooks ...............

[Robin Leech]

Naw, it is more fundamental than that.  The question is this:
Which came first, the subspecies or the species?
Robin Leech

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Tilbrook" <kevin_j_tilbrook at YAHOO.CO.UK>
To: <TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 3:50 PM
Subject: Too many cooks ...............


> Someone said (I forget whom) that subspecies were "in-between" states in
the path of evolution, from some entity towards another - or something
similar.
>
> If this is the case then each "subspecies" would be expected to have a
different path, it has had a different process of origination, and is
genetically different (one would expect). If this is taken as read, then
shouldn't every individual be thought of as a "subspecies"?
>
> Are we not all "hopeful monsters"?
>
> So where does that leave the taxonomic mainstay, the process of
typification of a "species" - should we all be shot and mounted in a museum
collection? (I know there are several individuals I would like to see get
stuffed - mainly politicians!) Of course clones would get off lightly!
>
> Can't we just stick with the old adage, "a species is a species if an
expert says it is"!?
>
> I know that this has its own intrinsic problems ("Who called the cook a
b*****d?", "Who called the b*****d a cook?"), but I like.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dr. Kevin J. Tilbrook,
> Earth and Oceanic Sciences Research Institute,
> Auckland University of Technology,
> 24 St. Paul Street, Private Bag 92006,
> Auckland 1020, New Zealand.
> Tel: +64-9-307-9999 ext. 8148
> Fax: +64-9-917-9973
>
> ---------------------------------
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