I'm sure that Paul intended "form" in the informal sense.

... Did I just make a joke?

Andrew

Andrew K. Rindsberg
Geological Survey of Alabama

-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gijs
C. Kronenberg
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 12:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Listing Nominate Species and Subspecies


Hi,

If a species is subdivided into subspecies I'd always use the name of the
subspecies, even if only one of the subspecies is encoutered. It immediately
makes clear which of the subspecies of e.g. Monodonta labio s.l. in
encoutered. When it is not clear which subspecies we are dealing with (e.g.
those are only to be distinguished on anatomical data, and those data are
not
available) Monodonta labio s.l. should be used: it immediately makes clear
that the author is well aware of the fact that M. labio is a polytypic
species. The use of the word "form" as done by Paul in his reply only
confuses the
matter: a form (forma, varietas) is absolutely not the same as a subspecies.
A form has no standing in nomenclature (see ICZN regulations). Although a
bit unfortunate, to continue the analogy of the company Paul
uses: what if another Johnson would enter the company? Moreover, when I
would ask on the phone for a person who's surname is Johnson, I'd always
would ask for Pete Johnson, and not simply "Johnson".

Gijs C.. Kronenberg

----- Original Message -----
From: "Monfils, Paul" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 6:59 PM
Subject: Re: Listing Nominate Species and Subspecies


> The only purpose of subspecific names is to differentiate between two
> morphological forms. If there is only one morphological form involved,
there
> is no need for a subspecific designation.
>
> It's sort of like - if there is only one man named Johnson in the
> company, you can refer to him simply as "Johnson" and everyone knows
> exactly who
you
> are talking about.  But if there are two men named Johnson, then you
> must say "Bob Johnson" or "Pete Johnson" when referring to either one
> of them.
> :-)

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