[Taxacom] I'm furious over article: On typeless species and the perils of fast taxonomy

[Frank T. Krell]

Rich wrote: "Ultimately, essentially all type specimens will probably be lost or destroyed (no preservation method is perfect -- the best we can likely hope for is that the preserved specimen remains extant for a few centuries)."

Given that we have specimens preserved (from Roman or Egyptian or even older times) that are preserved for thousands of years, I strongly disagree with your "few centuries". The problem is more in the political/administrative realm, but if Museum CEOs like yours resign before they can inflict severe and sustainable damage, then there is still hope.

Frank


Dr Frank T. Krell
Senior Curator of Entomology 
Commissioner, International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
Chair, ICZN ZooBank Committee
Department of Zoology 
Denver Museum of Nature & Science 
2001 Colorado Boulevard 
Denver, CO 80205-5798 USA 
Frank.Krell at dmns.org 
Phone: (+1) (303) 370-8244 
Fax: (+1) (303) 331-6492 
http://www.dmns.org/science/museum-scientists/frank-krell
lab page: http://www.dmns.org/krell-lab

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science salutes the citizens of metro Denver for helping fund arts, culture and science through their support of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).