Latin name for the Elephant
- Thread starter john
- Start date
The link below provides some interesting background to this
Linnaeus's Asian elephant was wrong species
Linnaeus's Asian elephant was wrong species
Kakapo
Well-Known Member
Extremely interesting read! Theorically, under the priority law, the African elephant should be called Elephas maximus (and Elephas cyclotis for the forest elephant), and Asian elephant should be changed to a new genus and species. However, I strongly suspect that Elephas maximus for Asian elephant will be considered as a nomen protectum, becoming a nomen oblitum when using it for the African one.
Nomen oblitum - Wikipedia
Nomen oblitum - Wikipedia
overread
Well-Known Member
That hasn't stopped changes in latin names for other species. Indeed with all the DNA changes alone the field of taxonomy is getting to be rather a complicated world set to get even more confusing as even quite recent publications can end up with the wrong latin name on species. This is without even approaching the subject of there being several different latin classification systems in operation the world over (I think Europe has 3 or 4 for birds alone).
I do get the feeling that at some point we might even have to move away from Latin to a new language base for formal classification. If just to try and provide some form of united single base to expand from and to refer old works too. Rather than a continuing line of changing latin classifications which might well prove confusing.
That probably won't happen for a time since a lot of this DNA change is within the last few generations so there's still many for whom the changes are recent enough that they've "grown up with the change". It's more newer generations where the confusion could be present.
That said it might never happen unless there's a huge shift in science toward a fully united front without national interest.
I do get the feeling that at some point we might even have to move away from Latin to a new language base for formal classification. If just to try and provide some form of united single base to expand from and to refer old works too. Rather than a continuing line of changing latin classifications which might well prove confusing.
That probably won't happen for a time since a lot of this DNA change is within the last few generations so there's still many for whom the changes are recent enough that they've "grown up with the change". It's more newer generations where the confusion could be present.
That said it might never happen unless there's a huge shift in science toward a fully united front without national interest.
The elephant names will remain as they are because, as mentioned in the article and in the ICZN, Linnaeus also designated other remains at the time he designated the fetus as the holotype and under Article 70.3 of the ICZN if a holotype is later proved to be misidentified then another designated specimen of the originally named species can be designated the neotype.
Furthermore, Article 23.2 of the ICZN states "the Principle of Priority is to be used to promote stability and it is not intended to be used to upset a long-accepted name in its accustomed meaning by the introduction of a name that is its senior synonym or homonym", and there have been many cases where the Commission has used it's plenary powers and ruled not to change a name for this reason.
Hix
Furthermore, Article 23.2 of the ICZN states "the Principle of Priority is to be used to promote stability and it is not intended to be used to upset a long-accepted name in its accustomed meaning by the introduction of a name that is its senior synonym or homonym", and there have been many cases where the Commission has used it's plenary powers and ruled not to change a name for this reason.
Hix