Who is/what does “Skeels” mean in Taxonomy?
06 Aug 2011
Question by a: Who is/what does “Skeels” mean in Taxonomy?
In taxonomy/biology:
when giving the latin name of a species it is common to state in parentheses the initial of the person who named/identified it. for example if it was found by Carl Linnaeus then the name is followed by: (L.) This is called the authority.
e.g: the English Oak tree is written: Quercus robur [in italics] (L.)
SO, my question is this:
What does it mean if the latin name for a species, which gives Linnaeus as the authority, is followed by the word “Skeels” ?
e.g: Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels
BTW – how do you write italics on the internet/yahoo answers?
Actually I think I’ve found the answer – it refers to Homer Collar Skeels. But why does it also quote Linnaeus if Skeels made the discovery?
Best answer:
Answer by Peter S
The name of any taxon may be followed by the “authority” for the name, that is, the name of the author who first published a valid description of it. These names are frequently abbreviated: the abbreviation “L.” is universally accepted for Linnaeus, and in botany there is a regulated list of standard abbreviations. The system for assigning authorities is slightly different in different branches of biology. However, it is standard that if a name or placement has been changed since the original description, the first authority’s name is placed in parentheses and the authority for the new name or placement may be placed after it (usually only in botany).
Skeels – Homer Collar Skeels (1873–1934) – refers to the new authority.
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