ICZN

[Michael Gochfeld]

I second Norbert's point. But (or And), like the names we are 
discussing, the code itself isn't stable. So it can be changed, and I 
think one way that compels its change is when there are changes in 
usage. 

The late Gene Eisenmann  of the AMNH pointed out to me (while he was 
alive) that a number of the "corrections" made when species were 
assigned to new genera, were grammatically incorrect. I.e. the author 
thought they were masculinizing or feminizing an ending, but did it 
improperly (if I recall it was usually because they misunderstood the 
gender of the generic name).   

I think its reasonable for the original describer of a new species to 
get gender agreement right. But scientific names are not Latin 
sentences, and stability ought to be more important than grammar which 
(as Norbert pointed out) most of us (and certainly most future students) 
wouldn't recognize anyway. 

Mike Gochfeld

 
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