subspecies questions

Ron Gatrelle gatrelle at tils-ttr.org
Wed Jan 2 22:41:10 EST 2002


If five taxa have been validly described and named, with type localities
designated and type specimens deposited in total compliance with the ICZN
and all were within one species.

S. aaa aaa   in 1860
S. aaa bbb  in 1900
S. aaa ccc  in 1910
S. aaa ddd  in 1932
S. aaa eee  in 1990

Which one word name (aaa, bbb, ccc,ddd, or eee) is the only one the ICZN
allows to be used if only one "name" is to be given to indicate the entire
species assemblage?
Answer:   aaa

Now let's say someone did not recognize bbb and eee as valid subspecies,
which one word epithet would one use then?
Answer:  aaa

Let's say someone did not recognize bbb, ccc, ddd, or eee as valid
subspecies, which name would be used?
Answer:  aaa

What if from 1900 to 1997 it was commonly thought that aaa and bbb were
different species.  Thus, up to 1997 everyone thought of these this way.

S. aaa aaa

S. bbb bbb
S. bbb ccc
S. bbb ddd
S. bbb eee

Then in 1997 someone demonstrated that all the bbb taxa were really all
subspecies of aaa.  How does the code dictate the names now be combined?
Answer:
S. aaa aaa
S. aaa bbb
S. aaa ccc
S. aaa ddd
S. aaa eee
And what one word would now be required to indicate them all?
Answer:  aaa

But people in 2000 did not like calling these all "aaa" per the ICZN rules
(including two or three professionals at some top
Museums/organizations/publications) as they were used to calling them just
"bbb" .  What then?  Tough bananas - popular opinion is trumped by the
Code.  Since aaa is 1) a distinct subspecies from bbb, 2) the first taxon
named in this group of subspecies,  3) has been in frequent usage from 1899
to date as aaa (Article 23.9.1.1), and 4) bbb does not meet the rules of
Article 23.9.1 or 23.9.2 -- then the combinations of aaa aaa and aaa bbb
etc. are to be employed.  Anyone who does otherwise is outside the rules of
science and their checklists, books, etc listings are pigheadedly
scientifically wrong.

ONLY if Acticle 23.9.1.1 is not met OR upon special applicaton to, and
ruling by, the IZCN commission,  can there be a combination of:

S. bbb bbb
S. bbb aaa
etc.

Ron Gatrelle



 
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