Long-standing taxonomic confusion over the identity of Hypudaeus syriacus Brants, 1827, at last resolved

Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Kryštufek ◽  
Gregory Shenbrot ◽  
Franc Janžekovič

Abstract In this study we address the taxonomic identity of Hypudaeus syriacus, an arvicoline (Arvicolinae) from the Middle East which was described and named by Anton Brants in 1827. Although the type specimen is preserved, an exact conclusion regarding its identity was not achieved until recently. Currently, syriacus is reported as a synonym of Microtus socialis. Our analysis of the M1 occlusal pattern has convincingly demonstrated that the type clusters with the European snow vole Chionomys nivalis and does not match any species of Microtus from the Middle East. H. syriacus predates Arvicola nivalis Martins, 1842, which is in use for the European snow vole and is therefore the oldest available name for the species. Under the provision specified by Article 23.9.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, syriacus is not a forgotten name (nomen oblitum) because several authors writing after 1899 used it as a valid name. Referring to the principle of priority, as stipulated in the Code, the valid name combination for the European snow vole is Chionomys syriacus (Brants, A. (1827). Het geslacht der muizen door Linneaus opgesteld, volgens de tegenswoordige toestand der wettenschap in familien, geslachten en soorten. Akademische Boekdrukkery, Berlyn [Berlin]). We restrict the type locality for syriacus to Mount Sanine in the Mount Lebanon range, northern Lebanon.

Zootaxa ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 626 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
KEVIN C. HOLSTON

An overlooked De Geer name, Nemotelus flavipes De Geer, 1776 has been identified as synonymous with Pandivirilia eximia (Meigen, 1820), a name in use for a species of stiletto fly (Diptera: Therevidae). The type specimen has been lost, and this synonymy is based on the original description and associated figures provided by De Geer. Nemotelus flavipes De Geer, 1776, is a nomen oblitum and Thereva eximia Meigen, 1820 is a herein recognized as a nomen protectum in accordance with Article 23.9.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, which maintains prevailing name usage for the species Pandivirilia eximia (Meigen, 1820).


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-558
Author(s):  
Uwe Fritz ◽  
Edoardo Razzetti ◽  
Josef Friedrich Schmidtler

Abstract To stabilize current nomenclature, Coluber helveticus Lacepède, 1789 and Coluber siculus Cuvier, 1829 are qualified as nomina protecta to ensure the usage of the established names Natrix helvetica (Lacepède, 1789) and Natrix helvetica sicula (Cuvier, 1829) for the barred grass snake. For the same reason, Coluber bipes Gmelin, 1789, Coluber tyrolensis Gmelin, 1789 and Coluber scopolianus Daudin, 1803, all with type locality Dolomiti di Fiemme (Italy), are declared as nomina oblita according to Article 23.9 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999). Coluber helveticus Lacepède, 1789 was originally introduced as a replacement name for Coluber vulgaris Razoumowsky, 1789 (type locality: Jorat, Switzerland). However, the latter name becomes a junior secondary homonym of Natrix vulgaris Laurenti, 1768 when transferred to the genus Natrix and thus, according to Articles 57 and 59 of the Code, invalid and does not threaten the usage of Natrix helvetica for the barred grass snake.


Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2201 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDRÉ NEMÉSIO

The Galápagos pink land iguana, Conolophus marthae Gentile & Snell, 2009 (Squamata: Iguanidae) is the latest example of a species being described without the proper deposition of a preserved onomatophore (name-bearing type specimen) in a taxonomic collection. Differently from other recent similar descriptions, the holotype of Conolophus marthae was marked with a Passive Integrated Transponder, allegedly allowing it to be tracked and found after its death, when it would be deposited at the Governmental Galápagos collection. Although apparently fulfilling the criteria of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, I here argue that this practice should not be followed and that the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature should urgently act to standardize criteria that should be met by those describing species found at the brink of extinction.


Author(s):  
William G. Parker ◽  
Axel Hungerbühler ◽  
Jeffrey W. Martz

ABSTRACTThe genus Machaeroprosopus has long been considered invalid because the type specimen of the Late Triassic phytosaur species, M. validus, has been lost. Re-examination of the primary literature regarding the establishment of the Late Triassic phytosaur genus Machaeroprosopus demonstrates that M. buceros is the correct type species, not M. validus. Thus, the genus level name Machaeroprosopus has priority over the genera Pseudopalatus and Arribasuchus and all nominal species should be reassigned. Reassignment of these species to Machaeroprosopus satisfies the requirements of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) and preserves historical context. The name Pseudopalatinae is retained as the valid clade name for these phytosaurs because its usage falls outside of the ICZN.


Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2110 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
PER CHRISTIANSEN

The recent recognition that the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is, in fact, two different species, which differ substantially with respects to craniodental and pelage morphology and genome characters, and the confusion about the initial descriptions of this taxon prompt designation of a neotype of Neofelis diardi. In this paper a neotype specimen consisting of a mounted skin, a skull, and a mandible (RMNH1981) is designated, which are housed at the National Museum of Natural History (Naturalis), in Leiden, the Netherlands. The type locality of Neofelis diardi is fixed as Palembang, Sumatra, under Article 76 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, rather than the original and erroneous locality of Java by Cuvier.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Koerber ◽  
Roberto E. Reis

ABSTRACT Historical information on the probable type-locality of Pimelodus quelen and of its four junior synonyms that share the same neotype, Pimelodus namdia, Pimelodus sebae, Heterobranchus sextentaculatus, and Silurus rivularis, is presented and discussed. The neotype designation for those four species is deemed invalid for not complying with the provisions of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, making it technically possible to revalidate any of the four taxa from the synonymy of Rhamdia quelen without having to address the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature. The type-locality of both Curimata gilbert and Callichthys asper are also restricted to rio Macacu at the village of Japuíba, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2834 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
WILLIAM E. MOSER ◽  
DENNIS J. RICHARDSON ◽  
CHARLOTTE I. HAMMOND ◽  
Eric Lazo-Wasem

Clepsine modesta was described by Verrill (1872) based on specimens collected in the West River and Whitneyville Lake, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA. Consistent with Article 73.2.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Anonymous 1999), the Syntype specimens of C. modesta originated from two localities and thus the type locality encompasses all of the places of origin. Moore (1898) synonomized C. modesta with the European Helobdella stagnalis (Linnaeus 1758) based on similarities in morphology. Subsequently, all North American leeches with a nuchal scute were considered as H. stagnalis with the exception of Helobdella californica Kutschera 1988, known only from Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA. In addition to Europe and North America, Helobdella stagnalis has been reported from South America, Africa, and Asia (Sawyer 1986).


Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1761 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
THOMAS M. DONEGAN

Dubois & Nemésio (2007) recently considered that the present International Code for Zoological Nomenclature (“Code”) could reasonably be interpreted as requiring the deposition of dead vouchers for new species and subspecies descriptions. They considered that, to the extent that there is lack of clarity, the Code should be amended so as to require the deposition of a dead voucher. They doubted the utility of photographs and other materials for descriptions and suggested that ethical or moral concerns about the taking of dead type specimens were poorly supported. Dubois & Nemésio (2007)’s preferred interpretations of the current Code are not supported by members of the Commission. Possible reasons why the collection of a dead type specimen might not be necessary or recommended include the setting of a good example to communities in whose hands conservation action lies, government permit issues and the description of new taxa on the brink of extinction where collecting may impact populations. The Code should be liberal in relation to the nature of type specimens to enable taxonomists, who are the persons best placed to take decisions, to make appropriate judgments for particular descriptions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 324 (4) ◽  
pp. 506-524
Author(s):  
I.V. Doronin ◽  
M.A. Doronina

The paper provides data on the current location of the type specimens of lacertid lizard's taxa described by herpetologist Georgy F. Sukhov (1899–1942), as at July 1, 2020: Lacerta agilis tauridica Suchow, 1927 (lectotype [here designated] — ZISP No 12620, paralectotypes — ZISP No 3226, 3235, 3238, 3856, 10366в, 12230, 12231, 12520, 12619, 14110, NMNH No 2152 (14599–14600), 2163 (14621–14622), 2172 (14705–14712), 2184 (14772–14773), 2184 (14774–14777), 2188 (14872–14893), 2279 (15983–16037), 2279 (16038–16074), 2518 (16621)), Lacerta boemica Suchow, 1929 (lectotype [here designated] — ZISP No 30363, paralectotypes — ZISP No 16210, 30358-30362, 30364-30398.1, NHM No 1960.1.4.26–30, 1965.337–342, NMNO no No), Apathya cappadocica urmiana Lantz et Suchow, 1934 (holotype — ZISP No 12657b, paratypes — ZISP No 11444, 12657а, с, 12658), Lacerta princeps kurdistanica Suchow, 1936 (holotype — ZISP No 11441.1, paratypes — ZISP No 11440, 11441.2–4, 11442, 11443). According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (4th edition), the name Lacerta agilis caucasica Suchow, 1927 should be considered as a junior primary homonym of Lacerta caucasica Méhely, 1909, and the designation of the neotype of L. a. tauridica by Kalyabina-Hauf et al. must be rejected. The history of description of taxa as well as a list of Sukhov’s publications (12 articles published in 1927–1948) are given. Localities, collector’s names and dates of capture of the type specimens are clarified. Anderson and Šmíd et al. indicated that Eiselt restricted the type locality of L. princeps kurdistanica; this is not true.


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4858 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL STEC ◽  
ŁUKASZ MICHALCZYK

The designation of a neotype for Macrobiotus coronifer Richters, 1903 (now the type species of the genus Richtersius Pilato & Binda, 1989) by Maucci & Ramazzotti (1981) with type locality Bodø in Norway is shown to be invalid as it does not comply with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Article 75.3.4). Furthermore, the specimen selected by Maucci & Ramazzotti (1981) is not from the original type locality, and the superficial and outdated documentation prevent a reliable identification of the species. A Code-compliant neotype is therefore designated. The new neotype was collected from the original locus typicus in Svalbard and described with standard light microscopy, detailed scanning electron microscopy imaging, DNA barcodes and a transcriptome, which makes it ideally suited for stabilising the taxonomy and nomenclature of Richtersius coronifer (Richters, 1903). 


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