[Taxacom] Validity of species/subspecies

[Javier Luque]

Dear Taxacomers,

A quick question. Imagine two subspecies: the extant *Xx xx xx, *and the
fossil *Xx xx yy*.  Someone proposed that the fossil subspecies was
different enough from species *Xx xx* to deserve full specific status, and
therefore named it *Xx zz**.  *Note that, instead of elevating subspecies *Xx
xx yy* to the species rank (i.e. *Xx yy*), the author gave it a new
specific epithet (i.e. *Xx zz*).  Here is the question: is *Xx zz *a valid
species?  Or should the subspecies *yy* have priority as the specific
epithet?

Thanks for your time and help.

Kind regards,
Javier

-- 
Javier Luque, Ph.D Student
Systematics and Evolution Group
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada

Center for Tropical Paleoecology and Archaeology
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Balboa-Anc?n, Panama
Apartado 0843-03092

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