GSC Guide to Authors - Open nomenclature

In the identification of fossils, varying degrees of confidence of identification can be expressed by using qualifiers. In order to provide some degree of uniformity, the following usages should be followed (see Bengston, 1988). The use of qualifiers between the generic and specific names is not regulated by the ICBN or ICZN and thus usages differ amongst authors. For example, Leptaena sp. cf. L. rhomboidalis ('a species of Leptaena compared to Leptaena rhomboidalis') may also be written Leptaena cf. L. rhomboidalis ['a species (implied) of Leptaena compared to Leptaena rhomboidalis']. Note that terms used to qualify taxonomic determinations are not in italics:

Leptaena sp. aff. L. rhomboidalis (Wilckens) — closely related to L. rhomboidalis but probably a new species.

Leptaena sp. cf. L. rhomboidalis (Wilckens) — similar to L. rhomboidalis and possibly conspecific with it.

'Leptaena' concava Hall, Leptaena 'rhomboidalis' (Wilckens) — quoted names are used in an obsolete or probably incorrect sense.

Leptaena concava Hall sensu lato — in the broad, or general, sense of L. concava (in this form, 'sensu lato', and 'sensu stricto', should not be italicized).

Leptaena concava sensu Hall — in the sense of, or as interpreted by, Hall.

When the interrogation mark is used in any of the following ways, it is not italicized (or underlined in the typescript):

Leptaena? concava Hall — identification at the generic level in doubt, but species identification believed to be correct.

Leptaena concava? or Leptaena concava Hall? — identification at the species level in doubt, but generic identification believed to be correct.

?Leptaena concava Hall — whole identification doubtful.

?Leptaena sp. cf. L. rhomboidalis — whole identification doubtful.