Optical discs in zoological nomenclature: problems and proposed solution

Abstract

According to the Code currently in force, taxonomic works presenting nomenclatural novelties published on optical discs may be nomenclaturally available only if published between 1985 and 2013, and respecting some conditions allowing their nomenclatural promulgation. These works will remain accessible to readers only as long as the technologies allowing to read such discs are available to all, but will become inaccessible when these technologies become obsolete. In order to overcome this technology dependence, the Linz Zoocode Committee has decided to publish facsimiles of these works, both on paper and online. For this to be possible, a list of these works needs to be built. We are therefore sending an appeal to the international community to provide information on all taxonomic works including nomenclatural novelties published so far on optical discs, whether available or not under the current Code.