Abstract
The generic name of the thylacine has two variants (or spellings), Thylacinus (meaning “marsupial”) and Thylacynus (“marsupial dog”), both created in the same zoological work by C. J. Temminck (1824). For the reasons explained here, the name that Temminck meant to use was Thylacynus. The variant Thylacinus became dominant after a mistaken use in an important nomenclature reference book by S. A. Neave (1935‒1941). However, according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Articles 24.2.3‒4), Temminck is to be considered the First Reviser, and the selected spelling (Thylacynus) is thereby to be fixed as the correct original spelling.
References
- Anonymous (1928) Enciclopedia universal ilustrada europeo-americana. Volume 61. Bilbao, Madrid & Barcelona.
- Anonymous [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (1999) International code of zoological nomenclature. ‘Fourth edition’. London (International Trust for zoological Nomenclature): i–xxix + 1–306. <https://www.iczn.org/the-code/the-code-online/>.
- Augé, C. (1897–1904) (ed.) Nouveau Larousse illustré. Dictionnaire universel encyclopédique. 7 volumes. Paris (Larousse).
- Battisti, C. & Alessio, G. (1957) Dizionario etimologico italiano. Vol. 5. Firenze (Barbèra).
- Bresslau, E. & Ziegler, H. E. (1912) Zoologisches Wörterbuch. Jena.
- Corbet, G. B. & Hill, J. E. (1991) A world list of mammalian species. Oxford (O.U.P.).
- De Beaux, O. (1937) Tilacino. In: Enciclopedia italiana di scienze, lettere ed arti, Volume 33, Roma (Treccani). <https://doi.org/10.2307/3715433>.
- Fischer, J. B. (1829) Synopsis Mammalium. Stuttgardtiae (J. G. Cottae).
- Gomez Gane, Y. (2005) I troppi nomi del tilacino. Studi di lessicografia italiana (Accademia della Crusca, Florence, Italy), 22: 241‒260.
- Grzimek, B. (1967) Grzimeks Tierleben. Enzyklopädie des Tierreiches. Volume 10. Zürich (Kindler Verlag).
- Grzimek, B. (1969) Grzimek. Vita degli animali. Volume 10. Milano (Bramante).
- Harris, G. P. (1808) Description of two new species of Didelphis from Van Diemen’s Land. The Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 9: 174‒177. <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1818.tb00336.x>.
- Hirsch-Schweigger, E. (1925) Zoologisches Wörterbuch. Berlin-Leipzig.
- Honacki, J. H. et al. (1982) Mammal species of the world. A taxonomic and geographic reference. Lawrence (Kansas, U.S.A.).
- Jackson, S. & Groves, C. (2015) Taxonomy of Australian mammals. Clayton South, Victoria, Australia (CSIRO Publishing). <https://doi.org/10.1071/9781486300136>.
- Lanza, B. & Simonetta, A. (1974) L’Oceania. Fauna. In: Enciclopedia della Natura, 7, Le terre emerse, Roma (G. Casini).
- Neave, S. A. (1935‒1941) Nomenclator zoologicus. A list of names of genera and subgenera in zoology from the tenth edition of Linnaeus 1758 to the end of 1935. 4 volumes. London (Zoological Society of London).
- Owen, D. (2003) Thylacine. The tragic tale of the Tasmanian tiger. Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia (Allen & Unwin): i‒xii + 1‒228.
- Owen, R. (1845) Descriptive and illustrated catalogue of the fossil organic remains of Mammalia and Aves contained in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. London (R. & J. E. Taylor).
- Paddle, R. (2000) The last Tasmanian tiger. Cambridge (Cambridge University Press): i‒x + 1‒273.
- Poiré, P. et al. (1924) Nouveau dictionnaire des sciences et de leurs applications. Paris.
- Sherborn, C. D. (1922‒1933) Index animalium. Sive index nominum quae ab a.D. 1758 generibus et speciebus animalium imposita sunt societatibus eruditorum adiuvantibus a Carolo Davies Sherborn confectus. Sectio secunda: a Calendis Ianuariis, MDCCCI usque ad finem decembris, MDCCCL. 33 volumes. London (British Museum).
- Temminck, C. J. (1824‒1827) Monographies de mammalogie. Volume 1. Paris. <https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.125524>.