I think anyone who is qualified should be able to name species and
subspecies as well as forms. To assume that only "scientists" should be
allowed to do this is no longer practical. First because scientists are just
as likely to make mistakes as "enthusiasts". Look how many shells have been
named more than once by scientists over the years. And look how many color
forms have been given specific and subspecific standing by scientists. A
knowledgeable collector or dealer who may or may not have access to all the
scientific literature, may be more qualified to recognize a new species than
a scientist who has access to the literature but little practical experience
with the group of shells in question.

I specialize in colorful land shells and quite frankly the descriptions of
new species and the literature written by scientists over the last 150
years, right up to today, is, in many cases just plain wrong. I would much
rather see Richard Goldberg naming new Amphidromus than any scientist.

If a dealer or collector names a new species and someone, scientist or not,
disagrees or has conflicting evidence, then put it in writing. Mistakes can
always be fixed no matter who made them. And chances are that the new
species is at least a new form. Pete Krull

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