[Taxacom] Retaining genus when its type species isn't diagnosable

[Doug Yanega]

On 12/6/16 4:45 PM, Michael A. Ivie wrote:
> No type? Unknown type species for a genus? No objective standard of 
> reference for the application of the name it bears.  Period.
Actually, there are lots of species with no type specimen, and many 
genera with no type species (dubious or otherwise). Percentage-wise, 
both occurrences are perhaps rare, but the absolute numbers are 
significant. BEST PRACTICE is to follow the Code, and the Code does not 
*require* stabilization through typification unless there is confusion. 
This is at the core of a lot of ongoing controversy, but I and perhaps 
most Commissioners seem to be okay with the "If it ain't broke, don't 
fix it" approach here.

If there is a genuine risk of a genus name being misapplied unless a 
type species is fixed, then yes, do it. Otherwise, don't worry.

Peace,

-- 
Doug Yanega      Dept. of Entomology       Entomology Research Museum
Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314     skype: dyanega
phone: (951) 827-4315 (disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)
              http://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html
   "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
         is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82