Correct Term

["Chris Chandler" <clc@george.peabody.yale.edu>]

Actually the taxonomic term _Polacanthus_ when used without a species 
designation should imply all species within the genus; it basically 
functions as a collective noun. If you truly mean you studied only those 
taxa (i.e. species) within the genus _Polacanthus_, then you can simply say 
I studied _Polacanthus_.



On Fri, 7 Apr 1995 12:55:52 -0400, 
Tom Holtz  <tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov> wrote:

>>Welcome back!
>>        Can anyone help me with a grammatical question, what is the correct
>>collective term for the species of the genus Polacanthus?
>>        e.g. which is it correct to say, that someone ".....studied the
>>Polacanthidae...." or ".....studied Polacanthids....." or both, or neither!
>>        Sorry if this seems a dum question.
>>                        Regards
>>                        Spike
>

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Christine Chandler                  Tele: (203) 432-3760
Vertebrate Paleontology             Fax:  (203) 432-9816 
Yale Peabody Museum                 E-MAIL: christine.chandler@yale.edu
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