Good Point Paul.   But, I do believe there is some Pride and Greed involved in
the naming.

[log in to unmask] wrote:

> "Re :Becoming lazy in naming species" .....    A few points:
>
> (1) Anyone who takes the time necessary to determine whether a species is new
> (to science) does indeed work very hard at both the research and subsequent
> publication...    hardly lazy, either physically or intellectually.  I think
> that it does, however, take a little more work to come up with an appropriate
> descriptive name.
>
> (2) Naming a new species after a person (i.e., creating a "patronym") is
> allowable under the rules of the International Code of Zoological
> Nomenclature (ICZN).  Thus, it is an option to be used or not used, at the
> discretion of the author. [i.e., if you don't like the rules, then change the
> rules!  ...petitioning the ICZN for rule changes is a lot of work too!]
>
> (3) Using descriptive nomenclatural terms, latinized or not, (consider the
> "Map Cowry", Cypraea mappa) certainly assists other conchologists /
> malacologists / enthusiasts to identify the subject shell, whereas a patronym
> seldom (if ever?) will help with the identification process.  (and as another
> person has stated, the descriptive name withstands the test of time...   it
> remains useful, forever)
>
> (4) The use of a patronym, while legally allowed, CAN be misused!  I don't
> recall the whole story well, but I do believe that someone (Alexander
> Agassiz?) named a small fish after someone he did not like....   simply
> because the fish lived in the butthole of a holothurian (sea cucumber)!   [or
> perhaps the fish was named after him by soneone else!]
>
> (5) While it may be an honor to have your name used to name a new species,
> how honorable is it if / when that name falls into synonymy later on?
> ...perhaps indicating that the author was rather too quick to do you a favor.
>
> That said, I personally think patronyms should be avoided if possible.
>
> Paul Mikkelsen
>
> ps:  Agree or disagree with the use of patronyms, I also think that it's a
> great topic for discussion!   ...and great use of Conch-L services.

--
Jim and Bobbi Cordy
Specializing in Self Collected Caribbean Species
Merritt Island Florida

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