Re: Taxon Search

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

> I'm not entirely sure I swallow this.

OK, I should have mentioned that many people use "taxonomy" for different 
things. For example it is a synonym of "systematics" for some.

> Given that any particular
> naming of a node or a stem is a nomenclatural act, surely the choice
> of which nodes and stems to name is a subjective one requiring
> knowledge of the relevant groups,

Sure.

> and making those choices is therefore a taxonomic procedure?

No, why?

("Knowledge of the relevant groups" is part of phylogenetics.)

> To pick an example totally at
> random, isn't it "taxonomy" to choose to attach a name to the node
> (Diplodocus + Dicraeosaurus) but not to (Diplodocus + Apatosaurus)?

I'd say it's nomenclature, like it is nomenclature to attach Family 
Caeciliidae to Genus *Caecilia* (an amphibian) rather than Genus 
*Caecilius* (a beetle). (That was an ICZN Opinion.)

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