[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Siphonophore zooids and the colony

Biology & ecology · 

## Why it looked like it would break the theory

Siphonophore zooids are organism-like individually and also parts of a colony. If an entity must be either a part or a whole, the organizational levels appear inconsistent.

## Why it failed

**The counterexample failed** because part and whole are recursive roles, not exclusive ontological types. A zooid can be a whole of its own parts while simultaneously serving as a part of the colony.

Settled by [R4](https://dsrpevidence.org/resolution/4). Not yet published.

[Read it](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-016-9553-z)

[All cases](https://dsrpevidence.org/counterexamples)