Dear colleagues,

Just one question: if Nerita punctata Karsten, 1789 is transferred to
Naticarius, then it is no longer a homonym of Nerita punctata 0.F.Müller,
1776, so Naticarius punctatus (Karsten, 1789) would turn out to be a junior
synonym of Naticarius stercusmuscarum (Gmelin, 1791)?  Even if this is the
case, the current Code of Zoological Nomenclature strives NOT to change
current widespread usage in favor of byzarre resurrected names -this is
done through reversal of precedence.  Any opinions?

Best wishes,

Cristian R. Altaba
LHS, University of the Balearic Islands
and Department of teh Envronment, Government of the Balearic Islands

-----Mensaje original-----
De:     Michael Hollmann [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Enviado el:     martes 16 de noviembre de2004 14:01
Para:   [log in to unmask]
Asunto: Re: any news from east atantic naticidae ?

Dear Olivier,

actually, West African and Mediterranean Naticidae are not that difficult
to
identify. The problem lies more in the abundance of different names for the
existing species and in the misuse of certain names than in real problems
of
telling the species apart. You also have to make sure to add the
authorities
after the names, as in several cases identical names have been given to
different species by different authors. For example, there is N.
stercusmuscarum (Gmelin, 1791) which is different from N. stercusmuscarum
(Roeding, 1798). Accordingly, you find quite a number of different names
applied to the species in different books, and some of the websites are
even
worse and contribute to the confusion.
You basically have to distinguish two groups of species when you talk about
the fulminea/cruentata/hebraea/stercusmuscarum/punctata complex that you
alluded to in your question:
Specimens with a funicle in their umbilicus, and those without.
Natica fulminea (Gmelin, 1791), a West African species which does not occur
in the Mediterranean, has no funicle, nor does Natica cruentata (Gmelin,
1791) which by most authors is regarded merely a form or variety of Natica
fulminea (Gmelin, 1791).
On the other hand, both Naticarius stercusmuscarum (Gmelin, 1791) and
Naticarius hebraea (Martyn, 1786) have a funicle, are distinct species and
occur in the Mediterranean. N. stercusmuscarum has a pattern of
well-separated dots which never coalesce into blotches. N. hebraea, on the
other hand, has numerous overlapping dots which may form blotches, solid
brown bands and even may produce an entirely brown shell. The animals are
quite different in coloration, too: N. stercusmuscarum has colored dots on
its foot, N. hebraea has colored lines radially traversing its foot.
There is a similar species in the West African Province that you do not
even
mention,  Natica multipunctata Blainville, 1824. This species also has a
funicle within the umbilicus.
With respect to -us or -a, that depends on whether you use Natica as the
genus (-a), or elevate Naticarius to full generic rank (-us).
So, we are talking about 4 different species here, and now let's wade
through the synonymies:

Species 1 (West African):
Natica (Natica) fulminea (Gmelin, 1791)
punctata Chemnitz, 1781 [Nerita] is non-binomial; it is Natica (Natica)
fulminea f. cruentata Gmelin, 1791)
cruentata Gmelin, 1791 [Natica] is a form or variety: correct name should
be
Natica (Natica) fulminea f. cruentata (Gmelin, 1791)
fulminans "Linne" (Bosc, 1801) [Natica] is a misspelling for Natica
(Natica)
fulminea (Gmelin, 1791)
punctata Dillwyn, 1817 [Natica] is a junior synonym of Natica (Natica)
fulminea f. cruentata Gmelin, 1791)
The following are junior synonyms of Natica (Natica) fulminea (Gmelin,
1791):
ziczac (Roeding, 1798) [Cochlis]
fulminea Lamarck, 1822 [Natica]
arachnoidea Lamarck, 1822 [Natica]
punctata Swainson, 1822 [Natica]

Species 2: (West African):
Natica (Natica) multipunctata Blainville, 1825
fanel Adanson, 1757 {Le Fanel, non-binomial], is Natica (Natica)
multipunctata Blainville, 1825
The following are junior synonyms of Natica (Natica) multipunctata
Blainville, 1825:
variolaria Recluz, 1844 [Natica]
multoties punctata Moerch, 1852 [Natica]
rocquigny Fischer-Piette, 1942 [Natica] is a form or variety: should be
called Natica (Natica) multipunctata f. rocquignyi Fischer-Piette, 1942


Species 3: (Mediterranean):
Natica (Naticarius) hebraea (Martyn, 1786)
The following are junior synonyms of Natica (Naticarius) hebraea (Martyn,
1786):
fanel Roeding, 1798 [Cochlis]
stercusmuscarum Roeding, 1798 [Cochlis]
maculata von Salis, 1793 [Nerita]
adspersa Menke, 1829 [Natica]
maculata Deshayes, 1838 [Natica]
cruentata "Gmelin" Lamarck, 1822 [Natica]
maxima Risso, 1826 [Nacca]
sanguinolenta Brusina, 1865 [Natica]

Species 4: (Mediterranean):
Natica (Naticarius) stercusmuscarum (Gmelin, 1791)
punctata (Karsten, 1789) [Nerita] is preoccupied by Nerita punctata O.F.
Mueller, 1776 and therefore not available.
The following are junior synonyms of Natica (Naticarius) stercusmuscarum
(Gmelin, 1791):
millepunctata Lamarck, 1822 [Natica]
punctata Risso, 1826 [Nacca]

Hope this clarifies things a little bit. But then, it may make waters even
murkier......

Michael

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