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Type: Article
Published: 2017-03-24
Page range: 48–51
Abstract views: 281
PDF downloaded: 1

Photography-based taxonomy is still really inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences. A reply to Thorpe (2017)

Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Rodovia Jorge Amado, Km 16, CEP: 45662-900, Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil

Abstract

A recent defense of the photo-based taxonomy is discussed. The main issue concerns the simplistic definition of “type”. A comparison with other material forms of type preservation highlights weaknesses inherent to the use of photographs as types. Additional arguments from Thorpe’s contribution are also reviewed and disputed.

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