[Nhcoll-l] Curating specimens with uncertain type status?

Wed Aug 2 12:39:35 EDT 2023

And to proof that section in collaboration with the collection managers of the various collections you are citing.  I agree that I have found untold errors in proofing material examined sections but only when it is too late because researchers did not contact me to look it over.

Andy
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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager
University of Kansas
Biodiversity Institute
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USA<x-apple-data-detectors://9/>

Tel: (785) 864-3863<tel:%28785%29%20864-3863>
Fax: (785) 864-5335<tel:%28785%29%20864-5335>
Email: abentley at ku.edu<mailto:abentley at ku.edu>
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From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Rob Robins
Sent: Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:37 AM
To: Shoobs, Nate <shoobs.1 at osu.edu>; Douglas Yanega <dyanega at gmail.com>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Curating specimens with uncertain type status?

Whatever the outcome of this case, it serves to underscore the need for authors to proof the materials examined section of their papers with the same care they do the rest of the work.

I’m sure nhcoll list members can attest to the many transcription errors encountered in the reporting of catalog numbers in published works…the rate seems quite high compared to other typographical errors.

Best wishes,

Rob

Robert H. Robins
Collection Manager
Division of Ichthyology
[FLMNH Fishes logo email small]
Florida Museum
1659 Museum Rd.
Gainesville, FL 32611-7800
Office: (352) 273-1957
rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu<mailto:rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu>

The UF Fish Collection is moving:
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/

Search the Collection:
http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/

Search samples suitable for dna analysis:
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/grr/holdings/

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> On Behalf Of Shoobs, Nate
Sent: Wednesday, August 2, 2023 12:03 PM
To: Douglas Yanega <dyanega at gmail.com<mailto:dyanega at gmail.com>>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Curating specimens with uncertain type status?

[External Email]
Doug,
Thanks for your prompt reply. This is one of the conclusions I reached, that the name is not available because a single type was not fixed at the time of publication. But others that I’ve spoken to are of the opinion that: 1. the type was designated and is simply lost in the type series, warranting a neotype designation. Or 2. that the designation of the lot constituted a syntype designation.
I think the former is plausible, but the latter cannot be because post-1999, syntypes must be fixed “explicitly” (meaning if the word syntypes wasn’t used, they ain’t syntypes.)
-Nate

--

[The Ohio State University]
Nathaniel F. Shoobs
Curator of Mollusks
College of Arts & Sciences Dept. of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology
Museum of Biological Diversity, 1315 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH 43212
614-688-1342 (Office)
mbd.osu.edu<http://mbd.osu.edu/>

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> on behalf of Douglas Yanega <dyanega at gmail.com<mailto:dyanega at gmail.com>>
Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 11:55 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu> <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Curating specimens with uncertain type status?
On 8/2/23 8: 39 AM, Shoobs, Nate wrote: The author, in the description, says something like this: “Holotype: OSUM 1234, 10 specimens. Paratype: OSUM 4567, 1 specimen. ”. Speaking as an ICZN Commissioner, this right here is the core issue. After

On 8/2/23 8:39 AM, Shoobs, Nate wrote:

  1.  The author, in the description, says something like this: “Holotype: OSUM 1234, 10 specimens. Paratype: OSUM 4567, 1 specimen.”.

Speaking as an ICZN Commissioner, this right here is the core issue.

After 1999, a holotype designation must be of an individual specimen. The statement above does not designate a single specimen, it designates a "lot" containing multiple specimens. Prior to 2000, this would have devolved to a "by default" situation and the specimens in that lot would have been considered syntypes.

I personally don't think the name of this new taxon is available at all, as it has no validly-designated type specimen, because your ample evidence (that what happened here is the accidental switching of the words "holotype" and "paratypes" in the final published version) is not allowable for names after 1999. The problem is unusual enough that I will pass it by the other Commissioners to see what they think, but I doubt it is salvageable.

Peace,

--

Doug Yanega      Dept. of Entomology       Entomology Research Museum

Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314     skype: dyanega

phone: (951) 827-4315 (disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)

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        is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82
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