RE: paleonet Dinosaur Genera List update #187

["Judith Harris" <harrisj@xxxxxxx>]

Title: RE: paleonet Dinosaur Genera List update #187

And thanks to you Leigh for a little reminiscing about Richard with me. Great man he was.

 

Judith

-----Original Message-----
From: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk [mailto:paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk]On Behalf Of Leigh Van Valen
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 8:30 AM
To: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk
Subject: RE: paleonet Dinosaur Genera List update #187

Thanks, Judy.  I have no doubt whatever that the author of the genus Cuttysarkus would have delighted in at least the attempt to honor him in this whimsical manner.  The eminent and nationalistic Argentinian Florentino Ameghino started the practice more than a century ago, with such names as Ricardolyddekeria (for the British paleontologist Richard Lyddeker), and the practice has attracted a small but persistent following.

Leigh

Well, it has been interesting reading all of the fuss over Richard Estes and the genus meant to honor his name. I have missed him for a long time, carrying him in a soft spot in my heart. I think that he would have found the whole thing rather amusing but would still want it right according to the code, but I am not sure on this--not that it matter. So thanks for bringing him to life again. He was a really wonderful man and did some great lizard work.

 

Judith Harris

-----Original Message-----
From: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk [mailto:paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk]On Behalf Of Jere H. Lipps
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 11:11 PM
To: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk
Subject: Re: paleonet Dinosaur Genera List update #187

Since the honoree's name is Richard Estes, those are the base words.  You do not Latinize a name by changing the original spelling to a Latin one.  You do that by the suffix.   You would take Richard and add the appropriate masculine latin ending or the entire name Richard Estes and do the same.  The author did combine the two names, so the Ricardo part is not correct (is it?)  because this is a different name from Richard.  That is the essence, I think.   The latinization applies to the whole new name, in this case richardestes.  The Latinization applies to the endings on richardestes not the two parts, richard and estes.  If you change Richard to Ricardo, then you change the honoree.  Although I know Richard Estes, I would have no idea who Ricardo Estes is, and that is not what the Code intends.   The Code intends to preserve the honor but there are a few rules to be followed.