Date:         Mon, 12 Jul 2004 05:48:03 -0400
Reply-To:     Conchologists of America List <CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sender:       Conchologists of America List <CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Harry G. Lee" <shells@HGLEE.COM>
Subject:      Re: New names
In-Reply-To:  <40F1E0BE.3070603@telus.net>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

It looks like Roth & Sadeghian (2003) read the directions and reached the 
same conclusions.  The nomenclatorial issue appears resolved; what remains 
is a taxonomic one, and for that I think anatomic (love-darts, etc) 
insights are necessary.

Harry


At 08:52 PM 7/11/2004, you wrote:
>Dear Harry, et al.,
>
>This is an interesting discussion relating to the correct generic (or 
>subgeneric) name to use for what was (or is) known as Helix aspersa.
>
>Roth & Sadeghian (2003; Checklist of the land snails and slugs of 
>California. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Contributions in 
>Science :60) have come to the same conclusion on whether Cornu is 
>available as a genus or subgenus name. I quote:
>
>"Recently published assignments of this ... species to either Cantareus 
>Risso, 1826, or Cryptomphalus Charpentier, 1837, at either generic or 
>subgeneric levels, are untenable, because Cornu Born, 1778, is an 
>available genus-group name. The type species of Cornu is Cornu copiae 
>Born, 1778, a nominal taxon based on a scalariform specimen of Helix 
>aspersa. Cornu is not based on a tetralogical specimen named as such and 
>in distinction from normal specimens of the same species [his italics] 
>(IZCN Art. 1.3.2) and is therefore available. It is also the earliest 
>genus-group name based on H. aspersa and is therefore the choice if one 
>wishes to distinguish H. aspersa generically or subgenerically from a 
>group of Helix Linnaeus, 1758 ...."
>
>Now, whether you want to treat Cornu as a genus or subgenus really doesn't 
>much matter, but for what it is worth, Roth & Sadeghian list the species 
>as Helix (Cornu) aspersa; i.e., treat Cornu as a subgenus of Helix. (But, 
>I use Cornu aspersum).
>
>Robert Forsyth
>
>
>Harry G. Lee wrote:
>>Dear Gijs, Henk, et al.,
>>
>>My Dad always told me: "When in doubt, read the directions."  I have Born 
>>and the Code in front of me.
>>
>>Born (1778) proposed the new generic name Cornu (type C. copiae Born, 
>>1778 by monotypy) in the belief that it was a normal shell of a new 
>>species requiring a new genus; both nomina were validly proposed under 
>>the Code.
>>
>>The description and companion plate depict what I (and others,it seems) 
>>consider a teratologic solute ("scalariform") specimen of Helix aspersa 
>>Müller, 1774.  The shell bears a considerable resemblance to the one on 
>>the large plate on p. 193 of the Compendium of Landshells.  I concur with 
>>Dick Petit's interpretation of ICZN 1.3.2, which reads: " (Exclusions) 
>>... for teratologic specimens as such" (my boldface).
>>
>>Now, assuming that Helix aspersa Müller, 1774 needs to be classified in a 
>>generic unit other than its original placement, and assuming no author 
>>applied Cornu to another genus of animals between 1758 and 1778 adhering 
>>to the provisions of the Code, the name Cornu is a available to 
>>accommodate it, and this generic name is an objective senior synonym of 
>>Cantareus Risso, 1826 (also based on the Müller species), an invalid name 
>>- barring the unlikely situation that Cornu has a senior homonym or synonym.
>>
>>Harry

Harry G. Lee
Suite 500
1801 Barrs St.
Jacksonville, FL 32204
USA
Voice: 904-384-6419
Fax: 904-388-6750
<shells@hglee.com>
Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page at:
www.jaxshells.org

oo .--.     oo .--.      oo .--.
   \\(____)_ \\(____)_ \\(____)_
     `~~~~~~ `~~~~~~ `~~~~~~

[text/html]