When names aren't really synonyms

[Jegelewicz]

Adding some classifications today and came across this:

Yes, Proboscidea in mammals is an invalid synonym of Pisania

BUT

Proboscidea in plants is NOT

Here is a real-world example for #1852

[dustymc]

#983 et al. - this is a known "problem," but I don't understand what it has to do with taxon concepts?

[Jegelewicz]

Concept 1

nomenclatural_code: ICZN
remark: Imported from ITIS 6 Feb 2007
source_authority: ITIS
taxon_status: valid

Classification:
Animalia (kingdom)
Mollusca (phylum)
Gastropoda (class)
Caenogastropoda (subclass)
Neogastropoda (order)
Buccinoidea (superfamily)
Pisaniidae (family)
Pisania (genus)

Concept 2

nomenclatural code: ICZN
author text: Bivona-Bernardi 1832

Classification:
Eucarya (unranked clade)
Opisthokonta (unranked clade)
Metazoa (subkingdom)
Eumetazoa (unranked clade)
Triploblastica (unranked clade)
Bilateria (unranked clade)
Eubilateria (unranked clade)
Protostomia (unranked clade)
Spiralia (unranked clade)
Schizocoela (unranked clade)
Mollusca (phylum)
Gastropoda (class)
Prosobranchia (subclass)
Caenogastropoda (superorder)
Neogastropoda (order)
Buccinoidea (superfamily)
Buccinidae (family)
Pisania (genus)

Concept 3

aphiaid: 137711 [refresh]
author_text: Bivona e Bernardi, 1832
nomenclatural_code: ICZN
source_authority: MolluscaBase (2018). Pisania Bivona e Bernardi, 1832. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137711 on 2018-12-18
taxon_status: extant
taxon_status: valid
synonym of Concept 5

Classification:
Animalia (kingdom)
Mollusca (phylum)
Gastropoda (class)
Caenogastropoda (subclass)
Neogastropoda (order)
Buccinoidea (superfamily)
Pisaniidae (family)
Pisania (genus)

Concept 5

nomenclatural code: ICZN
author text: Möller, 1832
taxon status: invalid
synonym of: Concept 4

Classification:
Animalia (kingdom)
Mollusca (phylum)
Gastropoda (class)
Neogastropoda (order)
Buccinidae (family)
Proboscidea (genus) [ more like this term ] [ including rank ] [ from this source ]

Concept 6

nomenclatural code: ICZN
author text: Spix, 1824

Classification:
Animalia (kingdom)
Chordata (phylum)
Mammalia (class)
Chiroptera (order)
Emballonuridae (family)
Rhynchonycteris (genus)

Concept 7

nomenclatural code: ICBN
author text: Schmidel

Classification:
Plantae (kingdom)
Tracheophyta (phylum)
Equisetopsida (class)
Magnoliidae (subclass)
Asteranae (superorder)
Lamiales (order)
Martyniaceae (family)
Proboscidea (genus)

Several concepts for two names (Pisinia and Proboscidea), but not all concepts are "synonyms" (see my addition in bold). At any rate, I could choose my classification from any of the above, correct?

[dustymc]

The "problem" (it is, but I'm not sure it's very important) is that relationships are between names, not classifications.

[Jegelewicz]

The "problem" (it is, but I'm not sure it's very important) is that relationships are between names, not classifications.

It IS important for the way things are set up now, but maybe not so much if we are using taxon concepts?

[dustymc]

See #983 and #1852 (comment) - concepts would not inherently change how relationships are handled. They would perhaps add stability to classifications (one of the "details" we'd need to work out) which could facilitate moving relationships to where they really belong. In the meantime, relationships get people to where they might want to be and preferred name can clarify the intent.

[Jegelewicz]

closing for lack of interest