any official terminology? Nomenclature versus Taxonomy

[Martin Spies]

Paul Kirk wrote:
> if there can be only one valid name at any one time, who decides this?
Ideally (I wish!), the author with the best scientifc arguments,
followed by the consensus of informed colleagues.

In reality (I'm afraid), the author who manages to convince enough
colleagues to establish (majority) consensus.

On the 'microlevel', i.e. in a situation of ongoing dispute as alluded
to by G.B., the last author to publish on the case.

In nomenclature - if the case has consequences on that level - the
respective authority for the rules of nomenclature. In zoology, this
is the ICZN in all cases that cannot be settled by an individual
author under the ICZN Code, or in which any author asks for the valid
and final nomenclatural act of a previous author to be overturned.

--
Martin Spies
c/o Zoologische Staatssammlung Muenchen
Germany