Still another code violation

[Ron Gatrelle]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX" <Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca>
Subject: Still another code violation


> On top of the names Phyciodes pratensis and Colias pseudochristina which
> violate the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature; I just noticed
> another error in Butterflies through Binoculars - the west. This one is
> Phyciodes selenis. A thorough review of Phyciodes nomenclature that was
> published some years ago made it clear that the correct name according to
> the rules is Phyciodes cocyta. Cocyta has been used by most authors since
> then, except for those few people who still like to lump cocyta with
tharos
> despite the evidence to the contrary. The reason is a simple matter of 60
> years priority of cocyta over selenis. There is an added issue which is
not
> yet widely known. Cocyta has a neotype. It is not known if selenis even
has
> any syntypes. It certainly does not have a lectotype nor neotype. Last
> winter I read the original description of selenis and it is clearly a
nomen
> dubium (name of uncertain application). I pointed this out to a few other
> people who then read the OD and also came to the same conclusion. Of
course
> people who do not want to play by the rules can continue to use pratensis
> and selenis and whatever else they want to :-)
>

If anyone has visited the International Lepidoptera Survey's web site
recently they will have noticed that the Lep Names sections have been set
up - no names yet. Each of the three proposed sections are under the
oversight of unbiased persons and based totally on pragmatic rules.  The
next step with each subsection is an explanatory introductory statement of
that sections function, compilation and contact person(s). These are slowly
developing lists. By the way, even though I am president of TILS I am not
in charge of any of these lists and not even a voting member of any
"committee" on them :-)

Ron





 
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