multicaudata vs multicaudatus

[Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX]

I agree that this is a small hill of beans in the grand scheme of things.
The size depends entirely on what importance one places on following the
code of zoological nomenclature.  I certainly agree with those people who do
not place any value on the gender congruence provisions of the code. Why ?
Well because society has changed dramatically over the years and most
biologists, myself included, do not much familiarity with Latin. So even
when we try to follow the rules it is still easy to produce an erroneous
result. For most people the code provisions on this point are pointless.  I
certainly support vigorous efforts to bring the code into the twenty first
century by replacing the current provisions with an "original useage"
clause.  In the interim, it is my choice to respect the rules as best I can,
with full recognition that errors will result due to not being a Latin
scholar. Readers who get paid to do taxonomy please take heed, show some
positive leadership, do your jobs and get cracking on getting that code
changed. Ignoring a code provision is, in my opinion, not the right thing to
do. My two cents worth on this topic :-)

-----Original Message-----
From: Pierre A Plauzoles [mailto:sphinxangelorum at bigfoot.com]
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 7:59 PM
To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: multicaudata vs multicaudatus


"Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX" wrote:

> I seem to recall some postings on this topic with respect to whether
Papilio
> is masculine or feminine but cannot recall what the bottom line was.  I
> recently remembered to check my ancient latin/english dictionary and it
> claims that Papilio is masculine which suggests for those of us who chose
to
> follow the ICZN rules that multicaudatus is the correct spelling.  Does
> anyone have reason to disagree with papilio as masculine ? if so, why.

Ah, but, is the meaning of the term "with multiple tails" (an prepositional
phrase in which the noun is plural) or is it something like "multi-tailed"
(where "tailed" is a past participle -- therefore a part of a verb -- acting
as
an adjective modifying the noun "Papilio")?  As I recall, the plural of
multicaudatus would be multicaudata.  :-)  Now that that question is laid to
rest, another crops up: does it amount to a hill of beans?  I think so, but
not
much more.

Still, since you are the one with "The Book" on the subject, I will defer to
you.


 
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