Dear All,


checking out various messages on Conch-L on this lazy afternoon, I
find it opportune to use Conch-L in order to inform the many among
you who were chocked that holotypes stayed in Conchology, Inc. for
some time.

In fact, when our company installed here in the Philippines, now
already 3 years ago, we were very well received by the Philippine
government. Conchology, Inc. got the best government protection as a
company, many duties and obligations to the Philippines, but also
many and very considerable advantages.

Among these obligations is that the holotype of a species from the
Philippines, gathered by Conchology, Inc. and described by one of its
employees belongs to the Philippines. This rule does not apply to
foreign shells or Philippine shells that belong to collections from
elsewhere.

The same obligation was put on the expeditions organised by Philippe
Bouchet: The Panglao Bidodiversity Project (2004) and the DABFAR
cruise (2005). Both expeditions discovered hundreds of new species
and these holotypes all belong to the Philippines.

The rule does not apply for shells collected earlier by the MNHN -
such as during the Musorstom and Estase expeditions, all from the
1980's.

Philippe Bouchet and myself now decided that the holotypes will be
deposited in the Philippine National Museum, Manila.  For the
holotypes here in conchology, about 50 pieces, the transfer will
happen still this year and you will get informed via the mailings to
registered members on www.conchology.be.

Best regards, Mabuhay, Guido from Mactan.

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