Describing new species in the absence of sampled specimens: a taxonomist’s own-goal

摘要

Photographs of individuals of new species have been used recently as a proxy for physical holotypes when specimens could not be or were not sampled. The arguments that have been presented in favour of this practice are discussed and shown to be ill-founded. The absence of physical specimens may be the source of considerable controversy and the effects of describing new species without physical holotypes are considered detrimental to the future of taxonomy and maintenance of scientific collections.