I agree with Helmut that topotypes has nothing to do with the nomenclature rules, but topotypes could very usefull ! I working for several years on asian land molluscs and it is not always possible to get some types in loan from musea for several reasons. Often only a holotype excists in bad shape. It this case a nice sample of topotypes is very helpfull. Possible Helmut thinks this is not the case in european land molluscs but as I collect many times in former Yugoslavia and it was always the main goal to collect on type-localities in order to collect some larger samples of topotypes as are available in the collections of musea to compare. > -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- > Van: Helmut Nisters [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Verzonden: zondag 11 juni 2000 7:09 > Aan: [log in to unmask] > Onderwerp: AW: question about topotype > > A topotype has nothing to to with the rules of nomenclature as the other > types will do. It's not important to have > a topotypus and it is without value. It's only say that the shell is > coming from the typical or origin locality, but > says not more. Many collectors use the term topotype but for myself and > the museum's collection I don't use. > with best shelling greetings > Helmut from Innsbruck > > Helmut "Helix" Nisters > Franz-Fischer-Str. 46 > A-6020 Innsbruck / Austria / Innsbruck > phone and fax: 0043 / 512 / 57 32 14 > e-mail: [log in to unmask] > web: www.netwing.at/nisters/ > (please visit it and sign guestbook) > always looking for shellgrit from all over the world > for my nearly 89 years aged mother Irmgard > to makes happy and to keep up her health > > office: > Natural History Department of the > Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum Innsbruck > Feldstrasse 11 a > A-6020 Innsbruck / Austria / Europe > phone: 0043 / 512 / 58 72 86 - 37 > web: www.tiroler-landesmuseum.at > (specimen donations to the > Tiroler Landesmuseum molluscs collection > are always appreciated) > > ---------- > Subject: question about topotype > > > > A question, > > I have a shell identified as Lampsilis radiata Gmelin, 1792 and > apparently > > with synonym of Unio rosaceus DeKay, 1843. > > > > The text on the label reads "Topotype of DeKay's species, 'Seneca Lake, > > N.Y.'" > > > > Just what do they mean by a Topotype? > > > > Thanks, > > Wayne > > > > > >