Species name proposal

[gorgon]

Is it possible to put forward a proposal to name an unnamed fossil species? Where (organization name) would such a proposal be sent?

Thank You,

-G

[Kane]

I would think that would be in the wheelhouse of the author(s) who formally describe the specimen(s). 

[Ludwigia]

2 hours ago, gorgon said:

Is it possible to put forward a proposal to name an unnamed fossil species?

 

As far as I know, only if you are the, or one of the authors submitting a detailed scientific paper for peer review on the discovery, description and justification for the proposal of a name for a new species. I suppose that someone who knows him or her or them could also make a suggestion to the author(s).

[Mark Kmiecik]

Sometimes fossils are named for the person who first found it and that is done by the person(s) describing it. If you're the one who found or you know the person describing it you can make a suggestion, but ultimately it's the author's call.

[cngodles]

On 3/17/2022 at 6:52 PM, Ludwigia said:

 

As far as I know, only if you are the, or one of the authors submitting a detailed scientific paper for peer review on the discovery, description and justification for the proposal of a name for a new species. I suppose that someone who knows him or her or them could also make a suggestion to the author(s).

Unfortunately, the ICZN only requires publication, but not peer review. To be respectfully accepted and taken seriously, you should publish in a peer reviewed publication.

 

I believe there are a few authors out there publishing in their own journals, and the names end up being valid. The ICZN takes no stance on the selling of scientific names, so if you’ve got the money, you can likely get something named after you if you help fund the research.

 

However, other authors may remove or contest the name if there is a valid reason for doing so. Perhaps an author before you named it, or it belongs under a different genus, or it was not described well (e.g. you said it was a horse, but it was a penguin).

 

Also, you can name it after yourself, but the ICZN drops a comment reminding you that it’s very vain to do so.

 

More reading here: https://www.iczn.org/outreach/faqs/#faq-10

Edited March 28, 2022 by cngodles