Re: Labrosaurus (was RE: birds and dinosaurs)

[Mickey Mortimer <Mickey_Mortimer111@msn.com>]

Jaime Headden wrote-

>   In extension, the paratype or syntype series, however, MUST be
> topotypes, i.e., occur in the same area and locality/formation as the
> holotype itself.

But what if someone refers a specimen from a different locality to their new
taxon?  Then it's a paratype, but cannot be a topotype.

Tim Williams wrote-

> >Pickering seems to have no qualms about discussing A. "whitei"
publically,
>
> Au contraire.  ;-)
>
> I was afraid that "A. whitei" may be mistaken for a formally published
name
> (as the author of this name believes it to be).  That is the biggest
danger
> with _nomina nuda_ - through continued usage, they tend to become mistaken
> for valid species, and can cause immense taxonomic confusion.

My philosophy is that through discussion, A. "whitei"'s proper status as a
junior synonym of A. fragilis can be established in the public's mind.
That's a better situation than the name floating about in obscurity where
people might think it's potentially valid.  Maybe the Phylocode will end
worries of officially naming nomina nuda due to misunderstandings or greed
with its proposed name registration system.

Mickey Mortimer
Undergraduate, Earth and Space Sciences
University of Washington
The Theropod Database - http://students.washington.edu/eoraptor/Home.html