Finally, not letting the news fade too quickly, PloS have earned one more publicity score by adhering to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, by making prints available of its article on Darwinius masillae, as reported to The Loom.
If it is so difficult for e-only journals to publish taxonomic papers following the simple rules applying, no wonder that the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature is working so hard to make it possible, and possible for everyone, not just PloS, to publish nomenclatural acts e-only.
The Commission has opened a consultation with the community about an amendment to the Code to permit e-only publishing of nomenclatural acts, posted on their website. A first round of comments has already been published.
With more than 1.8 million species named, and scientific names being the only index to this diversity, it is evident that the stability of names within the botanical and zoological nomenclatural systems is a priority for all. In its strive to take nomenclature to digital dimensions while still maintaining a system supporting stability in the short and long term, the Commission needs all advice and comments it can get from experts and practitioners.
I recently chance upon this blog.
I wonder if it might be a good practice that when splitting an existing genus, to keep the new genera in the same gender as the old one? In such a case, the spelling of the specific epithet will not need to be changed and thus save a ton of confusion.
Example would be the erection of Boraras from what was Rasbora. Because of this, R. maculata had to change to B. maculatus. Until today I still see the name being mis-written as B. maculata.