Yes, really true: but you are speaking about who, which taxonomists ? We
look for experts in shells, especially taxonomic/nomenclatural experts in
shells: they are VERY RARE. Who will treat my Assimineidae with expertise ?
And I've a rough 320 other "no expert" families to handle, out of the 760
existing ones...

Please read Tursch & Greifeneder on this major problem. Big paroles in a
world without experts...


> Andrew,
> The fact is that taxonomists do have large amounts of power with few
> restrictions, and can publish new names or synonymize old ones as they see fit
> with minimal oversight.  Along with that freedom comes the responsibility to
> be familiar with and respect the rules that do govern the process, and not
> leave it to future workers to clean up the mess that can be made by ignoring
> the rules.
>
> Allen Aigen
> [log in to unmask]
>
> -- Andy Rindsberg <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Well, if nothing else, this thread demonstrates (1) the necessity for
> standardized terms, and (2) the exaggerated sense of independence that many
> taxonomists have. The tension between (1) and (2) neatly explains how so
> much ink can be spilled over so little.
>
> Cheers,
> Andy
>
> Andrew K. Rindsberg
> Geological Survey of Alabama

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