Species inquirenda: Difference between revisions
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Possibly, in the case of a '''''species inquirenda''''', the taxonomist has (non-type) specimens before him, which clearly represent a good species, but it is unclear what name to pin on them, perhaps because the taxonomist has not seen all the relevant type-specimens in that group, and cannot decide original descriptions alone. |
Possibly, in the case of a '''''species inquirenda''''', the taxonomist has (non-type) specimens before him, which clearly represent a good species, but it is unclear what name to pin on them, perhaps because the taxonomist has not seen all the relevant type-specimens in that group, and cannot decide original descriptions alone. |
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Possibly, in the case of a ''[[nomen dubium]]'', the taxonomist has a type specimen before him, but |
Possibly, in the case of a ''[[nomen dubium]]'', the taxonomist has a type specimen before him, but cannot decide to which of the good species that he recognises it belongs, because the type specimen is defective in some way, lacking some diagnostic characters. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 00:07, 12 June 2011
In biological classification, a species inquirenda is a species of doubtful identity requiring further investigation.[1] The use of the term in English-language biological literature dates back to at least the early nineteenth century.[2]
It is a little unclear how this differs from a (species level) nomen dubium, meaning "a name of unknown or doubtful application"?
Possibly, in the case of a species inquirenda, the taxonomist has (non-type) specimens before him, which clearly represent a good species, but it is unclear what name to pin on them, perhaps because the taxonomist has not seen all the relevant type-specimens in that group, and cannot decide original descriptions alone.
Possibly, in the case of a nomen dubium, the taxonomist has a type specimen before him, but cannot decide to which of the good species that he recognises it belongs, because the type specimen is defective in some way, lacking some diagnostic characters.
References
- ^ "Glossary". International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (4th ed.). International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. 1999. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
- ^ Edwards, Sydenham Teast (1819). The Botanical Register. Vol. 5. London.
lacustris. Nuttall gen. 1. 23; (species inquirenda).