Re: Podokesauridae, Problems of Nomenclature Returned

["T. Mike Keesey" <tmk@dinosauricon.com>]

On Sat, 19 Jan 2002, Jaime A. Headden wrote:

> <Ah, but _Coelophysidae_ was *defined* first. (Podokesauridae has never
> been explicityly defined, TMK.)>
>
>   It doesn't matter. 1) if Podokesauridae is valid, Coelophysidae is sunk,
> in accordance with the ICZN. I believe the Phylocode provision is to move
> the definition to the valid taxon to which it applies; 2) The definition
> is not a valid reason to retain a taxon in priority, as any rule of
> definition application has been established. This may be the desire, but
> until I see it applied effectively, I will follow the ICZN.

I am not following the ICZN in this matter. In my classification
philosophy, and that of others, there is no such thing as a "family-level"
taxon. There are only clades an species. _Coelophysidae_ has been defined
as a clade. Podokesauridae has not.

>   Phylogenetic taxonomy says nothing on the application of names and
> definitions and the priority of a definition making an un-defined taxon
> defunct by it's lack.

PhyloCode does. Not that it's in effect yet, but it does state that a
definition must be provided for a taxon to be considered.

>   I see defining taxa as a supremely advantageous step, but I also would
> like to consider it optional to the person who names the taxon.

If it is undefined, how can you be sure how to use it?

> Issues of synonymy are very important, and they should be clearly
> worked out before anyone decides a taxon is not valid in one
> fifteen-word (or less) paragraph.

You can't really synonymize undefined taxa because they are not explicit.

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