[Taxacom] species inquirenda or nomen dubium = BOTH!

Sun Jun 12 16:46:01 CDT 2011

I think you have just contradicted yourself, Chris!

On the one hand, you say: 

'Species inquirenda is an taxonomical term and should only be used in the 
context of a taxonomy / systematic study (monograph, revision, etc.)' 

and 

'[nomina dubium] is usually used in catalogs and nomenclators'. 

So far, so good. But then you end with:

'Hence, we, the Systema Dipterorum, an online nomenclator (www.diptera.org)  use 
only nomen dubium (nomina dubia), but the New Zealand Inventory of  
Biodiversity, a checklist, uses species inquirendum (species inquirenda).'

But surely a checklist is a catalog, not a taxonomic study?? So the term 
'species inquirendum', by your own reasoning, should not have been used ... or 
am I missing something???

________________________________
From: Chris Thompson <xelaalex at cox.net>
To: dipteryx at freeler.nl; taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Sent: Mon, 13 June, 2011 2:02:42 AM
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] species inquirenda or nomen dubium = BOTH!

Stephen:

You are right to bring up this question.

Most people confuse these terms or do not realize that it is the context 
that is critical.

Species inquirenda is an taxonomical term and should only be used in the 
context of a taxonomy / systematic study (monograph, revision, etc.). And as 
others have pointed out this means a questionable species. That is, for some 
taxonomic reason, the species concept is not clearly defined. That may be 
due to the lack of diagnostic characters or questions about biological 
parameters, like whether the individuals are inter-breeding or not.

nomen dubium (nomina dubia) is a nomenclatural term and is, as Paul noted, 
defined by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.  It is usually 
used in catalogs and nomenclators. The ICZN defination is  "a name of 
unknown or doubtful application." The confusing part is that then refers 
back to the TAXONOMIC status of the underlying concept that the name 
represents. So, if A-us albus is listed as a nomen dubium, then that means 
the taxonomic concept which the name represents is "unknown," or "doubtful," 
which may be due to a number of things. That may include a type (or types 
(syntypes)) which lack characters useful to diagnostic purposes within a 
particular clade/group. And likewise, an original description that lacks 
useful information. Et cetera.

So, functionally and pragmatically, these terms mean the same thing.

So, one also should remember the context in which they are used.

Hence, we, the Systema Dipterorum, an online nomenclator (www.diptera.org) 
use only nomen dubium (nomina dubia), but the New Zealand Inventory of 
Biodiversity, a checklist, uses species inquirendum (species inquirenda).

Sincerely,

Chris

-----Original Message----- 
From: dipteryx at freeler.nl
Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2011 5:34 AM
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] species inquirenda or nomen dubium?

Well, if a name is qualified as a 'species inquirenda',
this would be an internal contradiction.

If something is listed in a Checklist as a 'species inquirenda'
I would say that (obviously) it is not accepted there as
a good species, but that it is listed as something that needs
looking into.

Paul

Van: Stephen Thorpe [mailto:stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz]
Verzonden: zo 12-6-2011 10:41

I'm glad it makes sense to you Paul!

OK, try again: in the context of an inventory of the biodiversity of New
Zealand, for example, if a name in the checklist is qualified as a  'species
inquirenda', with nothing else said, what does this mean?

________________________________
From: "dipteryx at freeler.nl" <dipteryx at freeler.nl>
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Sent: Sun, 12 June, 2011 8:22:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] species inquirenda or nomen dubium?

Why wouldn't it be that simple? Surely some publications
operate from a taxonomic perspective, while others take
nomenclature into account. They can use these terms as
is fitting.

Why would a type specimen be involved? Very often there
just won't be a type specimen.

Paul

Van: Stephen Thorpe [mailto:stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz]
Verzonden: zo 12-6-2011 9:43

I don't think it can be that simple

some publications, like NZIB, list binomials qualified as 'species 
inquirendae',

but with nothing else said

how are we to interpret this?

I guess it could mean that the name is of doubtful validity, and so we need 
to
look more closely at the species

but how does that differ from saying that the name is of doubtful 
application?

surely, for a name to be of doubtful application, there must be some 
connection
with the type specimen??

________________________________
From: "dipteryx at freeler.nl" <dipteryx at freeler.nl>
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Sent: Sun, 12 June, 2011 7:25:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] species inquirenda or nomen dubium?

I am with Barry; the one term, "species inquirenda", has a
taxonomic application ("a species to be looked into"),
while the other term, "nomen dubium", has a nomenclatural
application ("A Latin term meaning "a name of unknown or
doubtful application"."  is what it says in the Glossary
of the zoological Code).

No type specimens need be involved whatsoever.

Paul

-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu namens Stephen Thorpe
Verzonden: zo 12-6-2011 2:35
Aan: Barry Roth; taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Onderwerp: Re: [Taxacom] species inquirenda or nomen dubium?

yes, but I still do not have a clear understanding of the difference between
these two terms!

what if a name, Aus bus, has a type specimen lacking diagnostic characters
(according to some author)?

Should Aus bus be listed as a species inquirenda or as a nomen dubium?

we refer to taxa by use of names, so I cannot keep the two issues apart 
clearly

________________________________
From: Barry Roth <barry_roth at yahoo.com>
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Sent: Sun, 12 June, 2011 12:26:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] species inquirenda or nomen dubium?

The first has to do with the status of a taxon, the second pertains to the
status of a name.

Barry Roth

On Jun 11, 2011, at 4:59 PM, Stephen Thorpe <stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz> 
wrote:

> I do not have a clear understanding of the difference between these two 
> terms
> ... can anyone explain?
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