Re: Podokesauridae, Problems of Nomenclature Returned

["David Marjanovic" <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jaime A. Headden" <qilongia@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2002 3:51 AM

> Mike Keesey (tmk@dinosauricon.com) 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;

There's an old sayer, at least in Austria, "to believe means to know
nothing". See http://www.ohiou.edu/phylocode/art12.html, especially Note
12.1.1 -- it treats names that aren't established under it as nonexistent,
also see below. There simply is no PhyloCode-valid (established) taxon for
your belief.

BTW, I like Coelophysidae better also for a totally different reason -- it
has no -saurus :-)

> 2) The definition
> is not a valid reason to retain a taxon in priority,

Under ICZN.

> <Following traditional taxonomy and the ICZN, Familia Podokesauridae is
> correct, but following cladistic taxonomy and precedence of definition,
> _Coelophysidae_ is correct.>
>
>   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.

So you don't call the PhyloCode phylogenetic taxonomy?!?
Have a short look at Article 6.1 -- "Established names are those that are
published in accordance with Article 7 [link] of this code. Unless a name is
established, it has no status under this code."
http://www.ohiou.edu/phylocode/art6.html

> If it's closer to
> *Coelophysis* than *Ceratosaurus* as Sereno defines it, then
> *Podokesaurus* still wins as the first nominative suprageneric title
> holder and Coelophysidae is sunk. The ICZN wins, and Coelophysidae is
> lost.

Under ICZN, the ICZN always wins. Exactly :-)

BTW: Rhodesia is NOT Rwanda. North Rhodesia is Zimbabwe, South Rhodesia is
Zambia. *Syntarsus* is known from Zimbabwe but AFAIK not from Zambia and
definitely not from Rwanda. Rwanda is _far, far away_ from both and never
was under British rule.