>The presence of Trochoidea as a superfamily in the Vetigastropoda
>and as a genus in the Hygromiidae may cause indeed some confusion.
>However, the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature does not
>help us very much in solving this problem. When the Commission ruled
>that a superfamily name has to end with the suffix -oidea, they did
>not take into consideration that such names existed already among
>the genus group names.
>In my opinion this is a classic case for the wise men serving in the
>Commission to rule whether both names remain available in zoological
>nomenclature.

Mollusc & brachiopod workers have been dragging their feet on this
issue; some STILL use -acea for superfamilies.

Vertebrate workers have been using -oidea for decades.

How about Nautiloidea? If you speak of "a nautiloid", this is a real
confusion-generator.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<[log in to unmask]>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut
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I want your sinistral gastropods!
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Opinions in this e-mail are my own, not those of my institution
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Q: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.
A: Why is top posting frowned upon?