Etymology of the nomina of chelonians of the world.1. Genus-series nomina

2024-12-27T10:43:51+13:00

We provide a catalogue of the genus-series nomina of chelonians of the world, including all (343) extant and extinct genera or subgenera since the Holocene (present geological epoch, beginning about 12,000 years ago), currently recognized as valid (107) or not (236).

In order to solve some nomenclatural cases, we had to resort to 29 Articles of the Code (8.1.3, 8.4.2.2, 9.12, 11.6.1, 11.8, 11.10, 23.9, 23.9.1.1, 23.9.1.2, 23.9.2, 24.1, 28, 29.3, 29.3.1.1, 29.4, 30.1.1, 30.1.2, 30.1.3, 30.1.4.2, 30.1.4.3, 30.1.4.4, 30.1.4.5, 30.2.2, 30.2.3, 30.2.4, 32.5.2.1, 56.2, 67.8 and 67.13) and to 63 technical nomenclatural terms.

Some nomenclatural consequences result from our observations: [1] we fix onomatophores (by subsequent designation) for 15 genera in order to place them in synonymies; [2] we validate two nomina of genera (Chrysemys Gray, 1844 and † Hesperotestudo Williams, 1950) and one of species (Emys kachuga Gray, 1831) as mnemokyronyms (nomina protecta) by showing that their older synonyms should be considered as lethakyronyms (nomina oblita); [3] we act as first reviser by choosing Parapelodiscus Hoser, 2021 as lectoprotograph; [4] the genus Chelonemys Gray, 1864 is a synonym of Peltocephalus Duméril & Bibron, 1835, not of Podocnemis Wagler, 1830 as usually indicated; [5] the family-series nomen Rhinoclemmydinae Gray, 1873 must be corrected into Rhinoclemmyinae Gray, 1873; [6] the nomen Testudo muhlenbergii Schoepff, 1801 (currently Glyptemys muhlenbergii) must be corrected into Testudo muehlenbergii Schoepff, 1801 (now Glyptemys muehlenbergii); [7] under a rigorous application of the Code, the subgenus nomen Supremechelys Hoser, 2014 should take precedence over Chelydera Thomson & Georges in Shea, Thomson & Georges, 2020, but this is controversial; [8] we remind that, without a decision of the Commission, two nomina (Trachemys Agassiz, 1857 and Trionyx Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809) are threatened, as the first subsequent designations of their type species result in these nomina applying to taxa very different from those which are currently recognized. Finally, the search for distribution dates of publications led us to correct the dates of promulgation of several genus-series nomina.

Bionomina

Etymology of the nomina of chelonians of the world.1. Genus-series nomina