birding-aus

Albatross interim taxonomy

To: "birding-aus" <>
Subject: Albatross interim taxonomy
From: "Glenn Holmes" <>
Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 15:42:25 +1000
Like David James, I find the interim taxonomy of albatrosses offensive in the strictly scientific sense.  But because conservation of albatrosses is a critical issue, I recommend the use of a standard that has the imprimatur of precedence.
 
An interim name may be shown clearly as such with the use of brackets.  Two examples will suffice...
Gibson's Albatross  Diomedea (exulans) gibsoni
Salvin's Albatross    Thalassarche (cauta) salvini
 
Another way to avoid controversy, at least in pelagic trip reports,  is simply to use the English name.  After all, in the instance of albatrosses there seems to be little argument about what populations comprise the terminal taxa.  Spurious use of scientic names then ceases to be a problem.
 
Glenn Holmes & Associates
Birding & botanical specialists
PO Box 1246 Atherton
Qld 4883
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