Taxonomic jargon

[Finn N Rasmussen]

Diana Horton  wrote:

<snip>
I'm teaching Systematic theory at the moment, and I'd like to come up with
a list of taxonomic 'jargon' for the class.  For example, a 'good'
species.  Any contributions will be very much appreciated!
<endsnip>

A great idea, but beware: it could grow to a very large project. Do you
intend to include etymological notes and references, like first recorded
use of "alphataxonomy" etc.? Are you brave enough to include
recommendations or disrecommendations? A few contributions:

* Splimper (contraction of splitter and lumper, first used by R. Dressler
in "The Orchids" 1981 p. 145, who describes the splimper as a "curious
creature")
* Kleptotype (sometimes misspelled clepto-, an example of nomenclatural
jargon)
* Basal group (politically correct substitute for "primitive group". Need
not be primitive in more than one character, and is of course not more
basal than all the rest which is included in its sistergroup. Suggested
better term: Paucinodal group).

Finn N Rasmussen, Copenhagen