Search

In times of increasing easiness to produce publications, attempts have been made to use the Code's requirements for publication to declare controversial works unavailable. I advise against such strategy, because in this day and age, these requirements are very easily met by anybody and their violation very difficult to prove. This is illustrated by one example each from herpetology, ichthyology, and entomology. Contemporary works with controversial taxonomy and available nomenclatural acts are better taken care of by the scientific community and resolved in the long term by prevailing usage rather than trying to declare them unavailable or seeking suppression of such works by the ICZN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this application, under Articles 70.2 and 80 of the Code, is to conserve the current and universal usage of the genus name Heteronychus Dejean, 1833 for a genus of rhinoceros beetles (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Several species in this genus are important pests in Africa, Asia and Australia. The correct, long-overlooked type species is Geotrupes syrichtus Fabricius, 1775, designated by Duponchel (1845), is currently recognized as a valid species and the type species of Syrictes Prell, 1935, a genus placed in a different tribe of Dynastinae. Acceptance of this type species would transfer a widely used name from an economically important to a rarely cited genus, and the economically important genus would need to be named by the scarcely used subjective junior synonym Heteronychidius Paulian, 1954 with a dubious taxonomic identity. To conserve the usage of the widely used name Heteronychus, it is proposed that all type fixations for this genus preceding that of Heteronychus cricetus Hausmann, 1807 by Krell (2002) be set aside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this application, under Article 75.6 of the Code, is to conserve the specific name Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius, 1787) for a common African species of dung beetle (also known as Onthophagus gazella) that was successfully introduced into multiple areas all over the world. The species is of high economic importance as it is used as a biological control agent of pest flies and provides ecological services through the rapid burial of cattle dung. Scarabaeus gazella Fabricius, 1787 is a junior synonym of Scarabaeus catta Fabricius, 1787, now known as Digitonthophagus catta. If the principle of priority is applied, the name of the widely distributed species, would be Scarabaeus dorcas Olivier, 1789, a name that has been considered a junior synonym of Scarabaeus gazella/Scarabaeus catta since 1833. We propose to conserve the name Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius, 1787) for the widely introduced species through the designation of a neotype from voucher material of the original introduction into Hawaii. All feedback received from colleagues was supportive for the proposed designation of a neotype in order to maintain prevailing usage of the name D. gazella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2012 Amendment to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature allows electronic publication for nomenclatural purposes if certain requirements are fulfilled. We here explain these simple requirements, including what needs to be registered in ZooBank and when, which version of an electronic work is potentially Code-compliant (only the final, immutable version), and what is the correct date of publication (that of the final, immutable version; pre-final versions posted online are preliminary and as such always unavailable). We advise registration in ZooBank of publications that are issued in both electronic and paper version to secure the nomenclatural priority of the generally earlier electronic version. Failure to update a ZooBank record after publication will not have any impact on availability under the Code but will keep the registered information hidden from public view. Publishers may want to consider automated registration as an integral part of the publishing process; this has already been shown to be feasible and would ease the burden of manual registration for editors and authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article clarifies the definition of 'preliminary version' of work published online based on guidelines of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO). It recognizes the Version of Record as the final and nomenclaturally relevant version of zoological nomenclature. It infers that online pre-publications are considered only as supplemental material and do not have the immutable and permanent characteristic of the Version of Record.

The article focuses on a proposal to conserve the usage of the widely used names Scarabaeus Linnaeus for a dung roller beetle, SCARABAEINAE Latreille, for the dung beetles subfamily, and the Dynastes MacLeay, for the hercules beetle genus. The overlooked type species designation of Scarabaeus hercules Linnaeus, for Scarabaeus by Lamarck in Jolyclerc, threatens the current usage of the names. Proponents of the application request that the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature set aside all type species fixations for Scarabaeus before Hope's designation of Scarabaeus sacer Linnaeus, in order to maintain the current usage of all names involved.

The article highlights the conserve the use of Aphodius fimetarius for a Holarctic species of aphodiine dung beetle. Scarabaeus fimetarius was described by Linnaeus by referring to Frisch, Rösel, Uddman and his work "Fauna Svecica" and the specimens he used originated primarily from Sweden and Germany. The names Scarabaeus fimetarius Linnaeaus and Scarabaeus pedellus De Geer was used by Wilson after the course of her research found that Aphodius fimetarius has two species that is separable on their karyotypes. The authors asked to set aside previous type fixations for fimetarius Linnaeus and place fimetarius Linnaeus on the Official List of Specific Names in Zoology.

The purpose of this application, under Articles 75.5 and 75.6 of the Code, is to conserve the current usage of the name Aphodius fimetarius (Linnaeus, 1758) for a Holarctic species of aphodiine dung beetle. Since a different species has been erroneously designated as the lectotype, it is proposed that the previous type fixations for the species Aphodius fimetarius (Linnaeus, 1758) be set aside and a neotype consistent with the current usage be designated. Given that the species diagnostic morphological characters show variation overlapping with those of the most similar species, Aphodius pedellus (De Geer, 1774), we suggest a modern, chromosomally determined specimen as the neotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article proposes the conservation of the specific name of the dung beetle Onthophagus (O.) rugulosus, belonging to the family of Scarabaeidae of the genus Coleoptera, a widespread species from East Asia. It proposes the suppression of the senior secondary homonym Elytridium rugulosum, a fragmentary fossil from the Miocene of Spitsbergen, Norway. The researchers suggests the replacement name, O. spitsbergeniensis. Accordingly, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature is accordingly asked to apply its plenary power to suppress the specific name rugulosum Heer, 1870, and to place on the Official List of Specific Names in Zoology the names rugulosus, Harold, 1886, among others.

With electronic communication rapidly changing the scientific working environment, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature works on three major initiatives to adapt the current Code while, at the same time, safeguarding the stability of nomenclature. An Amendment to the Code has been proposed to allow electronic-only publications as available outlets for nomenclatural information. Such names would need to be registered in ZooBank, the proposed official registry of zoological nomenclature. For names and nomenclatural acts published through traditional, paper-based works, registration would be voluntary but encouraged. A new, more user-friendly edition of the zoological Code is in preparation. For the development of ZooBank and the new edition of the Code, the Commission encourages broad involvement of the taxonomic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2012 the regulatory bodies on botanical and zoological nomenclature have decided that papers describing new species and other taxa can now be published in electronic-only journals or books. This decision opens up open access journals for the publication of discoveries of new animals and plants on earth. Rules and regulations for electronic publishing of papers introducing new scientific names are explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]