BZN Volume 63, Part 4, 20 December 2006

Abstracts of Cases

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Abstracts of the Applications published on 20 December 2006 in Volume 63, Part 4 of the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature

Comment or advice on any of these Applications is invited for publication (subject to editing) in the Bulletin and should be sent to the Executive Secretary, International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, c/o The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, U.K. (e-mail: iczn@nhm.ac.uk).

 

Case 3353 (see Comments & Opinion 2188)

Obovaria Rafinesque, 1819 (Mollusca, Bivalvia): proposed conservation of usage by designation of Unio retusa Lamarck, 1819 as the type species of Obovaria

Arthur E. Bogan
North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, Research Laboratory,
4301 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 27607, U.S.A. (e-mail: Arthur.Bogan@ncmail.net)

James D. Williams
Florida Museum of Natural History, Museum Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611–7800, U.S.A.

Jeffrey T. Garner
Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, 350 County Road 275, Florence, AL 35633, U.S.A.

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Article 70.2 of the Code, is to conserve the current usage of the widely used name Obovaria Rafinesque, 1819 (freshwater bivalve from the eastern United States) by the designation of Unio retusa Lamarck, 1819 as the type species of Obovaria. The type species of Obovaria is at present Obovaria obovalis Rafinesque, 1820, which is an unused senior subjective synonym of Unio ebenus Lea, 1831 (currently Fusconaia ebena). The designation of Obovaria obovalis as the type species by Herrmannsen (1847) has never been adopted, and in current usage Unio retusa Lamarck, 1819 has universally been accepted as the type species of Obovaria. It is proposed that Obovaria obovalis Rafinesque, 1820 be suppressed.

Keywords. Nomenclature; taxonomy; Bivalvia; UNIONIDAE; Obovaria; Fusconaia; Obovaria obovalis; Obovaria retusa; Obovaria torsa; Fusconaia eben; eastern United States; freshwater mussel.

 

Case 3267 (see Opinion 2212)

Cherax tenuimanus Smith, 1912 (Crustacea, Decapoda, PARASTACIDAE): proposed conservation of usage of the specific name

Brett W. Molony1, Brian Jones, Craig S. Lawrence and Vicki A. Gouteff Research Division, Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia, West Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, PO Box 20, North Beach, Western Australia, 6920 Australia (e-mail: clawrence@fish.wa.gov.au)

1 Present address: Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, BPD5 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia (e-mail: BrettM@spc.int)

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Article 75.6 of the Code, is to conserve the specific name Cherax tenuimanus Smith, 1912 in its accustomed usage, for a species of freshwater crayfish or ‘marron’, important in the aquaculture industry, particularly in Australia. It has long been recognised that there are two subspecies of C. tenuimanus; in 2002 Austin elevated these to species level and proposed the name Cherax cainii for one. Based on the supposed location of Smith’s (1912) type series of C. tenuimanus, Austin applied the name C. tenuimanus to geographically isolated marron found only in a small catchment in Western Australia, and applied his new name C. cainii to all other marron in Australia and elsewhere. This switching of names is causing confusion since almost all usage of the name C. tenuimanus refers to marron occurring outside the area of Smith’s type series. It is proposed that all previous type fixations for the names Cherax tenuimanus Smith, 1912 and Cherax cainii Austin in Austin & Ryan, 2002 be set aside and neotypes designated for both species to maintain the accustomed usage of the name Cherax tenuimanus.

Keywords. Nomenclature; taxonomy; Crustacea; Decapoda; PARASTACIDAE; Cherax; Cherax tenuimanus; Cherax cainii; freshwater crayfish; marron; aquaculture; Australia.

 

Case 3354 (see Opinion 2190)

Tydeus Koch, 1836 (Acari): proposed designation of Tydeus spathulatus Oudemans, 1928 as the type species

Henri M. André
Section des Invertébrés non-insectes, Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium (e-mail: handre@africamuseum.be)

Andrzej Kaz´mierski
Department of Animal Morphology, A. Mickiewicz University, Umultowska
89, PL–61–614 Poznan, Poland (e-mail: akazmierski@tlen.pl)

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Article 70.3 of the Code, is to propose a new type species for the genus Tydeus Koch, 1836, the type genus of the family TYDEIDAE. The nomenclature of this genus is uncertain because of several incorrect designations of type species and a series of misidentifications. One of the two species originally included in the genus has been misidentified, and the types of both species originally included are lost. It is proposed that Tydeus spathulatus Oudemans, 1928 is designated as the type species of Tydeus Koch, 1836.

Keywords. Nomenclature; taxonomy; Acari; TYDEOIDEA; TYDEIDAE; Tydeus; Tydeus spathulatus; Tydeus croceus; Tydeus kochi; tydeid mites.

 

Case 3359 (see Opinion 2226)

Germarostes Paulian, 1982 and Haroldostes Paulian, 1982 (Insecta, Coleoptera, SCARABAEIDAE): proposed conservation

Henry F. Howden
Canadian Museum of Nature, P.O. Box 3443, Station ‘‘D’’, Ottawa, ON, K1P 6P4 Canada (e-mail: hhowden@mus-nature.ca)

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Article 23.9.3 of the Code and Recommendation 23A, is to conserve the generic name Germarostes Paulian, 1982 and the subgeneric name Haroldostes Paulian, 1982 for a group of New World scarab beetles. Since 1982, Paulian’s Germarostes or Haroldostes (the latter often cited as a subgenus) have been universally used by numerous authors. The names are threatened by the unused senior subjective synonym Sphaerelytrus Blanchard, 1841. It is proposed that the names Germarostes and Haroldostes are conserved by suppression of Sphaerelytrus.

Keywords. Nomenclature; taxonomy; SCARABAEIDAE; CERATOCANTHINAE; Sphaerelytrus; Germarostes; Haroldostes; Sphaerelytrus nigerrimus; Germarostes aphodioides; Haroldostes rugiceps; New World; scarab beetles.

 

Case 3360 (see Comments BZN 65:1 & Opinion 2211)

The ichnogenus Coprinisphaera Sauer, 1955 (Ichnotaxa, Insecta, Coleoptera, COPRINISPHAERIDAE): proposed conservation

J.F. Genise
Conicet, Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, Av. Fontana 140, 9100 Trelew, Chubut, Argentina (e-mail: jgenise@mef.org.ar)

J.H. Laza
Conicet, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Av. Angel Gallardo 470, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina (e-mail: pepela@macn.gov.ar)

A.K. Rindsberg
Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, Station 7, University of
West Alabama, Livingston, Alabama 35470, U.S.A. (e-mail: arindsberg@uwa.edu)

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Article 23.9.3 of the Code, is to conserve the universally accepted name Coprinisphaera Sauer, 1955 for an ichnogenus attributed to dung-beetle brood balls (ichnofamily COPRINISPHAERIDAE). This name is threatened by a rarely used senior subjective synonym Fontanai Roselli, 1939. It is proposed that the name Coprinisphaera is conserved by suppression of Fontanai.

Keywords. Nomenclature; taxonomy; ichnofossils; COPRINISPHAERIDAE; Coprinisphaera; Fontanai; Coprinisphaera ecuadoriensis; dung-beetle brood balls; Ecuador; Uruguay; Eocene–Holocene.

 

Case 3366 (see Comments BZN 64:1 & Opinion 2214)

Cisseis Gory & Laporte de Castelnau, 1839 and Curis Gory & Laporte de Castelnau, 1838 (Insecta, Coleoptera): proposed conservation

C.L. Bellamy
Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch, California Department of Food & Agriculture, 3294 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, California 95832, U.S.A.
(e-mail: cbellamy@cdfa.ca.gov)

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Article 23.9.3 of the Code, is to conserve the generic names Cisseis Gory & Laporte de Castelnau, 1839 and Curis Gory & Laporte de Castelnau, 1838 for genera of jewel beetles by suppressing their respective little-used and poorly defined senior synonyms Diphucrania Dejean, 1833 and Selagis Mannerheim, 1837.

Keywords. Nomenclature; taxonomy; Coleoptera; BUPRESTIDAE; Cisseis; Curis; Cisseis duodecimguttata; Curis caloptera; jewel beetles.

 

Case 3367 (see Comments 64:1,64:2 & Opinion 2192)

Curculio contractus Marsham, 1802 (currently Ceutorhynchus contractus; Insecta, Coleoptera): proposed conservation of the specific name

M.G. Morris
Scientific Associate, Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, U.K. (e-mail: mgmorris.ent@virgin.net)

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Article 23.9.3 of the Code, is to conserve the specific name Curculio contractus Marsham, 1802 for a well-known species of European weevil by suppression of a little used senior primary homonym Curculio contractus Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785. A lectotype is designated for Curculio contractus Marsham, 1802. The replacement proposed by Colonnelli (2004) of Curculio contractus Marsham, 1802 by Ceuthorhynchus pallipes Crotch, 1866, which is applied only to a geographically very restricted taxon of doubtful status, is opposed.

Keywords. Nomenclature; taxonomy; CURCULIONIDAE; Curculio; Ceutorhynchus; Ceutorhynchus contractus; Ceutorhynchus minutus; Ceutorhynchus pallipes; Europe; weevil.

 

Case 3352 (see Opinion 2201)

Productus compressus Waagen, 1884 (currently Compressoproductus
compressus; Brachiopoda): proposed conservation of the specific name

Masatoshi Sone
Asia Centre & Earth Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW
2351, Australia; presently at Graduate School of Science and Technology,
Niigata University, Niigata 950–2181, Japan
(e-mail: masasone@coral.plala.or.jp)

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Articles 23.9.3 and 81.2.1 of the Code, is to conserve the specific name Productus compressus Waagen, 1884 for the type species of the Permian brachiopod genus Compressoproductus Sarytcheva in Sarytcheva et al., 1960. The name is a junior primary homonym of Productus compressus Say in James, 1823, which has been seldom used since it was established. Waterhouse & Piyasin (1970) proposed Compressoproductus morahpressus as a substitute name for Productus compressus Waagen, 1884, but this name has never been used other than by Waterhouse (1978, 1983). It is proposed that the name Productus compressus Waagen, 1884 be conserved by suppression of Productus compressus Say, 1823.

Keywords. Nomenclature; taxonomy; Brachiopoda; Productus; Compressoproductus; Compressoproductus compressus; Compressoproductus morahpressus; Permian.

 

Case 3356 (see Opinion 2194)

Schizechinus Pomel, 1869 (Echinodermata, Echinoidea): proposed conservation of usage by suppression of Echinus serresii Des Moulins, 1837 and designation of Psammechinus serresii Desor, 1856 as the type species

Andreas Kroh
Department of Geology & Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, Burgring 7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria (e-mail: andreas.kroh@nhm-wien.ac.at)

Andrew B. Smith
Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, U.K. (e-mail: a.smith@nhm.ac.uk)

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Article 69 of the Code, is to conserve the prevailing usage of Schizechinus Pomel, 1869 for a genus of fossil toxopneustid echinoids from the Miocene of the Mediterranean region and possibly the Neogene of Australia. No type species was designated in the original description, while the subsequent designation of Anapesus tuberculatus Pomel, 1887 by Lambert & Thiéry (1914) is invalid because it was not an originally included nominal species. Acceptance of the originally included fossil species Echinus serresii, whether attributed to Des Moulins (1837) or Agassiz & Desor (1846), as the type species of Schizechinus would destabilize the nomenclature by completely changing the identity of this genus from that in current usage, rendering it a nomen dubium. It is therefore proposed that the Commission designates Psammechinus serresii Desor, 1856 as the type species of Schizechinus. In order to stabilise the identity of the type species we designate a neotype.

Keywords. Nomenclature; taxonomy; Echinodermata; Echinoidea; TOXOPNEUSTIDAE; Schizechinus; Schizechinus serresii; Schizechinus delphinus; Neogene; Miocene; Mediterranean.

 

Case 3357 (see Opinion 2196)

Calamaria H. Boie in F. Boie, 1827 (Reptilia, Serpentes): proposed conservation of usage by designation of C. linnaei H. Boie in F. Boie, 1827 as the type species

Jay M. Savage
Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182–4614, U.S.A. (e-mail: savy1@cox.net)

Charles W. Myers
Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, U.S.A. (e-mail: myers@amnh.org)

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Articles 50.1 and 68.4 of the Code, is to conserve the long and continuing usage of the name Calamaria for a genus of Asian colubrid snakes by ruling that the nominal genus Calamaria was established by H. Boie in F. Boie (1827) and that its type species is Calamaria linnaei H. Boie in F. Boie, 1827. This would involve setting aside all previous fixations of type species for Calamaria before this date and designating C. linnaei as the type species. Calamaria linnaei H. Boie in F. Boie, 1827 has been used as a replacement name for Coluber calamarius Linnaeus, 1758, but the Commission is now asked to rule that this name denotes a separate taxon. These actions are required to avoid synonymy between Calamaria and the valid generic name Oligodon H. Boie in Fitzinger, 1826.

Keywords. Nomenclature; taxonomy; Reptilia; Serpentes; Calamaria; Calamaria linnaei; snakes; Asia.