Legally, individual animals that are merely hybrids of other species
should not get new scientific names.  There are at least two
complications, however:

Someone may find a distinctive specimen or set of specimens and name a
species, not realizing that it is just a hybrid.  That name would not
be valid.

However, in many organisms, including some mollusks, it is possible to
make a new species through hybridization.  The hybrid is able to
reproduce, either asexually or by breeding with other hybrids, and
functions as a distinct species.  Exactly how to name these, where to
draw the line, etc. is rather problematic.  Examples include Campeloma
and probably Lasaea.


--
Dr. David Campbell
The Paleontological Research Institution
1259 Trumansburg Road
Ithaca NY 14850

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