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Type: Correspondence
Published: 2019-07-02
Page range: 63–65
Abstract views: 283
PDF downloaded: 1

The nomenclatural status of the generic nomina Epirinus Dejean, 1833 and Epirhinus Agassiz, 1846 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae)

Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 South Africa
Epirinus Dejean 1833 Epirhinus Agassiz 1846 Epirrhinus type species designation dung beetles scarabaeids southern Africa

Abstract

The genus Epirinus Dejean, 1833 was established with seven originally included species, none of which was designated as type. Reiche’s (1841) and Janssens’ (1938) designations of a type species for this genus were invalid, but Ferreira’s (1972) subsequent designation of Scarabaeus flagellatus Fabricius, 1775 is valid by virtue of Article 69.2.2, as this author had placed the nomen Scarabaeus granulatus Olivier, 1789, one of the originally included species of Epirinus, in its synonymy: the latter nominal species is therefore the type species of this nominal genus. The unjustified emendation Epirhinus Agassiz, 1846 of Epirinus Dejean, 1833 is nomenclaturally available but invalid, being its junior objective synonym. As for the spelling Epirrhinus introduced by Bedel (1903), it is an incorrect subsequent spelling, devoid of nomenclatural availability.