Theresa Schwinghammer wrote:

> In Abbott's Compendium of Seashells the Florida Horse Conch is labeled as
> PLEUROPLOCA GIGANTEUS. In the book Florida's Living Beaches by Witherington
> it is labeled as TRIPLOFUS GIGANTEUS. I have run into this situation
> several times and I am wondering why....
>
> Can someone please help me get through this confusion?


The science of taxonomy, like the science of everything else, is
constantly changing its mind. The poor old horse conch has been tossed
from genus Fasciolaria, to Pleuroploca, to (for now) Triplofusus without
a thought for the poor beast's feelings or preferences. But as long as
you say "Florida Horse Conch", everyone will know of whom you speak.

m

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