[Taxacom] Clerck 1757/1758

[Robin Leech]

Francisco and Michael and Others, 

I agree 100%.  I think the fear initially was that, if Clerck's work is officially recognized as being 1757, it would open 
the proverbial "can of worms".  This means that any oher work dated 1757 is up for legitimacy, and potentially, so are any 
of those predating 1757.

Well, we araneologists do use Clerck's species names, and we cite 1757.  The reasons to fear that open can of wprms do not 
seem to have come to pass.  Perhaps the ICZN will retract and allow Clerk's work to stand as recognized.  After all, 
Linnaeus's work in 1758 WAS THE 10TH EDITION, and not the first edition.

After all, selecting the 10th edition of SYSTEMA NATURAE was arbitrary in and of itself.

Robin Leech
Edmonton, Alberta

-----Original Message-----
From: Taxacom [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Welter-Schultes, Francisco
Sent: March-06-15 4:26 AM
To: Michael Schmitt; taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Clerck 1757/1758

Dear Michael,

Clerck 1757: This is an endless discussion which I would prefer to see being finished in the next edition of the Code.

The book appeared in 1757, which is the true date of publication. 
The Code 4th ed. Art. 3.1 (effective since 2000) states that Clerck's publication has to be dated to 01 Jan 1758, and consequently, the taxa are to be cited with the authorship of "Clerck, 1758". Integrating this regulation in the Code has widely caused confusion in the light of Linnaeus also being officially dated to 01 Jan 1758.

Most spider names are usually cited with the date 1757. I see no real future for the date 1758 for a book that appeared in 1757. I always cite Clerck's spider names with the 1757 date. It is not the job of the Code to change the reality of the history of science.

The Code should be modified, Clerck's publication and names of taxa should be cited with the true year 1757, and Clerck's publication should also officially be recognized as the beginning of zoological nomenclature. It was argued that this would affect the important and decisive role of Linnaeus as the founder of zoological nomenclature, but I see no reason for assuming that. I just see this as an interesting detail of history - the founder did not publish the first recognised publication - and something zoologists can always smile about.


Francisco Welter-Schultes
Zoologisches Institut
Berliner Str. 28, 37073 Goettingen

________________________________________
Von: Taxacom [taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu]" im Auftrag von "Michael Schmitt [michael.schmitt at uni-greifswald.de]
Gesendet: Freitag, 6. März 2015 12:01
An: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Betreff: [Taxacom] Clerck 1757/1758

Dear colleagues,



could anybody please enlighten me on the possible justification of citing Clerck's Aranei Svecici as of 1757. I know that it was actually published in 1757, but find in the ICZN art. 3.1 that it is "deemed to have been published on 1 January 1758" and having priority over Linneus' 10th edition of Systema Naturae. I infer from this that names from Clerck's work must be cited as "Aus bus Clerck, 1758". Obviously, arachnologists have another opinion as I find Clerck's names listed as of 1757. According to the Code, these names would not be available (this is the reason why the Commission has arbitrarily put the publication date of Clerck's book to 1758). Does anybody know of any FORMAL decision, e.g. opinion of the ICZN, to abandon art. 3.1?



Any hint will be welcome.



Best regards

Michael



Prof.Dr. Michael Schmitt

Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universitaet

Allgemeine & Systematische Zoologie

Anklamer Str. 20

D-17489 Greifswald

Germany



Tel.: ++49 (0) 3834-86 4242

Fax: ++49 (0) 3834-86 4098

E-Mail: michael.schmitt at uni-greifswald.de



http://www.mnf.uni-greifswald.de/institute/fr-biologie/institute-und-forschu
ng/zool-institut-museum/allgemeine-und-systematische-zoologie/personal-staff
/prof-dr-michael-schmitt.html



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