FIGURE 8 in To name or not to name: Criteria to promote economy of change in Linnaean classification schemes

FIGURE 8. Fictitious example of a choice between two alternative classifications on the basis of the Nomenclatural Stability TNC. The large tree on the left represents the current classification and the result of a phylogenetic analysis. Black circles denote clades that are phenotypically clearly diagnosable and of highly stable monophyly; white circles are of highly stable monophyly but low phenotypic diagnosability. The clear paraphyly of Mysteromantis mandates a change in classification. Both alternative classifications (on the right) lead to phenotypically diagnosable and monophyletic units. However, the second alternative revalidates a genus Incertomantis of unstable nomenclatural status, e.g. because its type species is based on a lost holotype and incomplete description, or on a holotype in very poor state of preservation. It is therefore probable that Incertomantis will be completely redefined in the future, and therefore it is not advisable to choose a classification in which this taxon is resurrected.