[Taxacom] formation of zoological names with Mc, Mac, etc.

[Richard Petit]

Francisco:

I did not realize that you were concerned only with "currently used names."  

"I do not remember a case where a genus-species-author-year combination for a currently used name does not provide a unique identifier. Theoretically this is possible, the Commission can rule such things."

Will your taxa list not include synonyms and homonyms, objective as well as subjective? If not, how then would one determine if a name has been previously used?

There are cases where an author used the same name in the same year for different species.  Obviously only one of them, if any, can be in current usage.  The prize for this goes to G. B. Sowerby I who in 1833, through carelessness, introduced Conus bicolor for three different species.

It is probably impossible to devise a list that suits everyone.  In my opinion a list that does not indicate the author, name, and date (at a minimum) is of no value as it cannot be easily verified, if at all, and does not point one to the original description. 

If your program can handle "Adams" but cannot distinguish between "A. Adams" and C.B. Adams" you might need to work on changing your program or add a small field for initials.  If a program can handle "De Kay" or "Van Winkle" (surely you won't change their names to Kay and Winkle) it should be able to handle initials.  Obviously I do not know much about computer programs (no, I really know nothing about them).

I do not envy you your task.

Regards,

dick p.