Olshevsky and the ICZN (long)

[Crpntr@ix.netcom.com (Kenneth Carpenter)]

Tom Holtz wrote:

>G. Olshevsky is "proposing" several new tyrannosaurid generic names 
>in...the Japanese magazine Kyoryugaku Saizensen...
>However, since these are not peered-reviewed articles, the names are 
>not considered "valid".  ...they will not be accepted for scientific 
>usage until published in a peer reviewed journal.

I only wish this were true.  The International Code of Zoological 
Nomenclature (ICZN, 3rd Edition, 1985) discusses the criteria for 
publication in Chapter 3 and peer review is not one of the criteria 
(many - not all-  European scientific journals don't use manuscript 
reviews).  Chapter 4 discusses the criteria for names to be available 
for use.  The high points of these are as pertaining to Olshevsky are:

Chapter 3
   Art. 8.  What constitutes publication.
       (a) Criteria to be met -
             (1) it must be issued publicly for the purpose of providing 
a permanent scientific record;
              (2) it must be obtainable, when first issued, free or 
charge or by purchase, and
               (3) it must have been produced in an edition containing 
simultaneously obtainable copies by a method that assures numerous 
identical copies.
    Art. 9.  What does not constitute publication -
              (1) handwriting reproduced by some mechanical or graphic 
process;
              (2) photographs, except microcards and microfiche;
              (3) photocopies unless certain criteria are met (e.g. Art. 
8 (d)(ii))
              (4) microfilm;
              (5) proof sheets;
              (6) computer printouts
              (7) acoustic recordings (i.e. tape recording)
              (8) distribution only to colleagues or students in a note 
explaining an accompanying illustration
              (9) specimen label
             (10) mention at a meeting
             (11) document (e.g. thesis) in a collection of documents at 
a library or archives.

Chapter 4
    Article 11.  Requirements -
         (a) Publication and date - The name or nomenclatural act (e.g. 
spelling change) must have been published...
         (b) Language - a name must be spelled in Latin letters and used 
as a scientific name...
                (I) a name may be a Latin or latinized word
                (ii) a name may be a word in another language that uses 
the Latin alphabet, or be formed from such a word...
                (iii) a name may be formed from a language that uses a 
non-Latin alphabet...if it is written in Latin letters...
         (d) Names to be treated as valid when proposed - ... a name 
must be treated as valid for a taxon when proposed unless it was first 
published as a junior synonym...

    Article 13.  Names published after 1930 -
         (a) requirements
               (I) accompanied by a description or definition that 
states in words characters that are purported to differentiate the 
taxon, or
               (ii) accompanied by a ... [literature] reference to such 
a published statement...or
              (iii) proposed expressly as a new replacement name (nomen 
novum) for an available name.

    Olshevsky does violate several recommendations, however. 
    Appendix E.  General recommendations.
        4.  When the description of a new taxon is not written in 
English, French, German, Italian, or Latin, it should be accompanied by 
a translation into one of those languages
       5.   In publications issued in any other language than English, 
French, German, Italian, or Latin, the explanations of figures should be 
translated into one of these languages.

     Finally, Recommendation 7A.  "Authors have a responsibility to 
ensure that new scientific names,... and information likely to affect 
nomenclature are made widely known.  This responsibility is most easily 
discharged by publication in appropriate scientific journals or 
well-known monographic series."    Kyoryugaku Saizensen does not met 
this recommendation, nor does the magazine attempt to pass itself off as 
a scientific journal.  The editors unfortunately are not aware that 
George is violating the ethics of scientific nomenclature and that they 
should not allow him to name new taxon.

I would STRONGLY urge everyone concerned about Olshevsky proposing new 
names to write to him about it: George Olshevsky, PO Box 543, Central 
Park Station, Buffalo,  NY, 14214 or 507 Crescent Ave., Buffalo, NY 
14214, and to the editor Mr. Masaaki Inoue, Gakken Kyoryo, 40-5, 4 
Chome, Kami-Ikedai, Ohtaku, Tokyo 145, Japan.