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

Thu Aug 3 04:30:41 EDT 2023

... and to publish the discovered bias in the description/designation. We had similar issues when preparing the type catalogue for the fish collection in Munich when we discovered that a renowned expert lumped specimens he received form different institutions at his home into one lot - and had apparently not labelled them individually and run into issues sorting them out correctly afterwards again.

A straight forward approach for such cases which cannot be resolved with the desired/required clarity is to publish the observed glitch and all information that were / could be obtained after its discovery on the obvious discrepancies in this designation.

With best wishes
Dirk

Am 02.08.2023 um 18:46 schrieb Shoobs, Nate:
Agreed with the points from Rob and Andy. Just a few months ago I had a paratype cited using the wrong number and collection code.
It’s also true that editors need to do a better job of proofing these things. That this slipped by the authors, peer reviewers, and editors, ought to be considered. I should add that this was not in a megajournal with a broader scope, but rather a well-regarded smaller journal that publishes mainly taxonomic papers.
-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: Bentley, Andrew Charles <abentley at ku.edu><mailto:abentley at ku.edu>
Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 12:39 PM
To: Rob Robins <rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu><mailto:rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu>, Shoobs, Nate <shoobs.1 at osu.edu><mailto:shoobs.1 at osu.edu>, Douglas Yanega <dyanega at gmail.com><mailto:dyanega at gmail.com>, 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?
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
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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From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu><mailto: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><mailto:shoobs.1 at osu.edu>; 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?

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:
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Search the Collection:
http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/__;!!KGKeukY!1EFeFjsEobDklReesjwP1DgMqGc0cB9OKKia3c0gLxa1h89rfXBjAWmLpSWeOtH5TQJyXegGt5MkCpBnqQ$>

Search samples suitable for dna analysis:
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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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Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael Wappelhorst
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