by Raymond Hoser » Fri Feb 05, 2016 7:38 am
Dear all,
May I remind people that personal insults are both unscientific and prohibited in the rules and recommendations of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, which for those not familiar with the document is now available online.
As for the various species in the relevant viper complex that are subject of this thread, I should note that I did not in fact discover them all, but have merely synthesized a large body of available scientific evidence to conclude the obvious.
The various species are separated from one another by DNA, morphology and distribution, which as far as these things go is as good as it gets! Complaints by non-scientists as to the format of each description and similarities between them demonstrates ignorance of the rules and requirements when naming new taxa and the need to separate these from similar taxa.
If someone can raise a scientific argument to the effect that the DNA backing the new species is wrong, or something similar, then all my names can and should be ignored, and same for the other two names I resurrected from synonymy as previously proposed and used by other authors unconnected to myself.
However in the absence of scientific rebuttal, all species formally named in that paper will have to be recognized.
That I was the person privileged in naming the taxa is not something to get upset or personal over. As noted on the ICZN’s own forums, who is the “name authority” is not significant in terms of taxonomy. It is merely important that taxa carry proper names.
As an irrelevant aside, I note that the coined name Malayopython from 2013 or thereabouts is an invalid and illegal name on several grounds, including that it was not validly published according to the rules of the Zoological Code and is therefore unavailable.
In any event, even if it were to be made available by some means, it is a junior synonym of the correct name Broghammerus Hoser, 2004, and thus still invalid and illegal to be used and while rule breakers may seek to use the incorrect name, genuine scientists will use the correct code compliant name at all times and this is seen even now with most recent publications still using Broghammerus in preference of the invalid name and in the face of a significant campaign by various rule breakers, such as Wuster and Schleip.
The same applies for Leioipython hoserae, Hoser, 2000 versus Schleip’s coined name, the correct name from year 2000 being used about 3 times more frequently than the illegal Schleip name.
Finally, I am not the first person to name species or genera after family members and noting that my wife and mother have both made globally significant contributions to herpetology and the conservation of endangered species, it was entirely proper that they be honoured with taxa named after them.
It is clearly a case of sour grapes by less worthy people who have not made significant contributions (or as significant) who complain loudly about these patronyms.
All the best
Raymond Hoser (The snake man)