Re: New descriptions(IMPORTANT!!)

[Rjga at aol_com]

In my opinion, no person should attempt to describe and name a new species 
unless he or she has been trained by an ichthyologist who has described 
species before. If one believes he/she has a new species, the information on 
where it came from and a photograph should be sent to a scientist who has 
published on the group. If that scientist thinks it might be new, he/she will 
probably ask for specimens, which one should be willing to supply dead or 
alive and, if dead, preserved exactly as requested. To jump the gun is a 
disservice to ichthyology, and it can be embarrassing as well. Years ago, Joe 
Ricco and I collaborated on describing Aphyosemion melanopteron. 
Subsequently, J.J. Scheel pointed out that this fish was already known as A. 
congicum. I was embarrassed by the error, and should have stuck with 
describing  and naming things I knew about - marine tapeworms. So being an 
expert in one area doesn't qualify a person to act like an expert in another. 
I knew the rules of nomenclature, but I was no expert on Aphyosemion. Believe 
me, it's no honor to describe and name a fish, but  it's a dishonor to 
confuse the ichthyology literature. 

Robert J. Goldstein, Ph.D.
Robert J. Goldstein & Associates, Inc.
Environmental Consultants
8480 Garvey Drive
Raleigh, NC 27616 USA
tel  (919) 872-1174
fax (919) 872-9214
URL   www.rjgaCarolina.com
e-mail  rgoldstein at rjgaCarolina_com


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