How do we talk about a species name that the current experts consider to be
the right name at this moment of space-time?

Correct name?
Earliest valid name?
Correct valid name?
The right stuff?

At 11:41 AM 11/24/2003, you wrote:
>It's important to keep separate the issues of nomenclatural versus
>biological appropriateness of subspecies.  A subspecies name can be an
>official scientific name, based on the ICZN rules.  Varieties, etc.
>proposed after the rule was established cannot be official scientific names.
>
>On the other hand, there is the question of whether subspecies are a
>biologically meaningful concept.  Someone who does not think so will
>either synonymize or elevate subspecies names to species.  Organisms are
>much more variable than any system of names, so there will be cases that
>seem to make subspecies an appealing option and cases where subspecies
>seem to be a bad idea.
>
>A similar issue comes from subjective synonyms.  If two people
>independently name a species based on different specimens from the same
>population, everyone may agree that the second name is biologically
>superfluous.  However, it is a validly proposed name.
>
>     Dr. David Campbell

John Wolff
Lancaster, PA