At 02.34 03/05/2007 -0300, you wrote:
>The dilema of of the "validity" of various types of
>subspecific taxonomy
>is an old one, and really, i think the question is
>largely moot: while
>the concept of "subspecies" (reliably different,
>reproductively
>isolated populations  which clearly belong to the
>same species) seems to
>be quite valid and useful on almost all levels -
>even if difficult to
>determine in some cases - , the practice of calling
>different
>combinations of color, pattern and form by "forma"
>or varietal names
>does little harm within the context of a community
>of collectors.

But reproductively isolated populations wouldn't be
different species since unable to interbreed?
Still I am struggling to understand the subspecies
concept.
Regards
Paolo


Paolo G. ALBANO
Bologna, ITALY
Webmaster of Società Italiana di Malacologia website at http://www.sim-online.it

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