names 2

[Ron Gatrelle]

I thought I would address this question before it is asked. One might say
that there are perhaps several scientific epithets on "record" for a given
taxon - so which one is the _correct_ one?    Or, how can _A_ name be
correct when there are several to choose from?

The very fact that someone would ask these questions demonstrates that they
do not understand the science of systematic taxonomy.  One has to become
familiar with several terms, their definitions and applications. These
terms are.

Available name
Unavailable name
Valid name
Correct name

In the above questions what is being address is the issue of what is the
_valid name_ not correct name. One would be asking which of the proposed
(over time) names is the taxonomically valid name.

That is an entirely different issue than that of correct vs. common names.
Ron



 
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