Art and Olivier,

Hybrids have no status under the International Code of Zoological
Nomenclature (http://www.iczn.org/iczn/index.jsp), but the International
Code of Botanical Nomenclature does accommodate them. Here are the relevant
parts of the ICZN:

Article 17. Names found to denote more than one taxon, or taxa of hybrid
origin, or based on parts or stages of animals or on unusual specimens. The
availability of a name is not affected even if

17.1. it is found that the original description or name-bearing type
specimen(s) relates to more than one taxon, or to parts of animals belonging
to more than one taxon; or

17.2. it is applied to a taxon known, or later found, to be of hybrid origin
(see also Article 23.8); or

17.3. it is based on only part of an animal, or one sex, or one stage in the
life cycle, or one of several dissimilar generations, or one morph or caste
of a polymorphic species, or a parthenogenetic form, or a specimen which is
an unusual example of the taxon (for exclusions see Articles 1.3 and 45.6).

23.8. Application to species-group names established on hybrids. A
species-group name established for an animal later found to be a hybrid
[Art. 17] must not be used as the valid name for either of the parental
species, even if it is older than all other available names for them. Such a
name may enter into homonymy. For names based on taxa which are of hybrid
origin see Article 17.2.

What all of this says is, "Don't give animal hybrids a new species name. If
one is named accidentally, then stop using the name and don't use the same
spelling for anything else in the future. But if an author takes a name
based on a nonhybrid type and applies it to a hybrid, the name is still
valid for the original, nonhybrid species."

The rules for plants are quite different, but someone else will have to
explain them.

(Aside to Art: Hope you're doing well in the city of Sus alatus. If you have
a hankering for sauerbraten, I highly recommend Ron's Roost in the Western
Hills; they still ferment their beef the old-fashioned way.)

All the best,
Andy

Andrew K. Rindsberg


-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
[log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 10:04 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: hybrids


It seems to me that a "hybrid" may be either a "form of", a "sub-species",
or a "freak". I would suspect FREAK untill many examples are found. At which
point, the other two designations may be considered.
    Art
>
> From: Olivier Caro <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2005/06/29 Wed PM 03:15:54 EDT
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: hybrids
>
> "hybridism": amalgamation of companies, development of a chimera,
> all-directional fertilization, tea x coffee (P.I. Tchaikovsky)! I
> suspect hybridism to open the door of a strange house.
>
> What is (or are) the acknowledged sense(s) of this word: hybrid (in
> plants_veget. not bizness_, in seashells)... ? Relationship between
> "hybrid" and "species"... ? In other words, what is the place of a
> hybrid in a systema naturae ?
>
> Olivier Caro
>

PLEASE NOTE: My new, long-term, and correct email address is:
[log in to unmask] Please update your records!

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