Dear Harry,

It is good to be able to examine the original description.  The important question, however, is does Sowerby's type material exist?  If it does not, then the name is certainly a nomen dubium.  If it does, then the name is not a nomen oblitum due to Strebel's use post 1899.  It would thus have to be referred to the commission to suppress papillosa in favor of gigantea.  The basic problem is to me is that to propose such to the commission that it would be good to be able to demonstrate that papillosa is or is not a nomen dubium due to existence of type material.  Strebel and Snyder may be incorrect in their determinations.  But I disagree that Snyder revived the name by "fiat".  The name cannot be rejected under 23.9.1.1 and is according to two authors the senior synonym.  The subjective argument can be made that common sense should suggest that identification of Sowerby's description with any gastropod in particular should not be made without reviewing the type material.  Had that
been done then the request to suppress the senior synonym would seem obvious because the junior synonym certainly meets criteria of 23.9.1.2 and is as good a case as any for applying article 23.9.3.

Yours,


John K. Tucker
-----Original message-----
From: "Harry G. Lee" [log in to unmask]
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:47:18 -0600
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CONCH-L] Link to a nomen dubium

Listers,

Bill Frank has posted the original description of Fasciolaria
papillosa at
<<http://www.jaxshells.org/pap15.htm>http://www.jaxshells.org/pap15.htm>.

There was no companion illustration.

As you can see, it is painfully brief and general. Units (unc.) are in inches.

Harry

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