There is a great set of "points of view" papers in this issue of Herpetologica!
They have three groups discussing systematic accuracy and frequent
name changes.
Crother states in his rebuttal that these name lists are not binding,
as they are actually
hypotheses of relationship. These three papers should be required
reading (as a group) in every herpetology and systematics
class and evolution! They reveal much about the scientific process.
Basically, in herpetology there has been a lot of turmoil in
scientific names of late.
The first paper discusses problems with this, the second paper is a
rebuttal of sorts,
and the third paper is also a rebuttal of sorts.
It is very interesting because we have a unique situation with our
common and scientific names list.
The american herp societies jointly publish a names list.
Then, the Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH.org) publishes a
different list.
Both claim to be the "official list." These two groups broke from
each other about a decade ago, and the
inability to find common ground has sustained a very unique schism.
As the herpetologists go,
few are happy with either list. The fight rages on. Usually, these
fights are over a single species or groups, not
the entire subject!
Malcolm
--
Malcolm L. McCallum
Associate Professor of Biology
Managing Editor,
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
Texas A&M University-Texarkana
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