Abstract
The genus Nemesis Furfaro & Mariottini, 2021, was recently introduced for an independent lineage of aeolid nudibranchs, and Dondice banyulensis Portmann & Sandmeier, 1960, established as its type species. Anyway, the presence of a senior homonym, Nemesis Risso, 1826, was evidently missed. In fact, in 1826, Risso established this genus for a group of Copepoda (Arthropoda, Crustacea) and according to the Principle of Priority (ICZN) only the senior homonym may be used as a valid name. Therefore, a new replacement name is here proposed. Furthermore, the genus name Nanuca Er. Marcus, 1957, has priority over Dondice Er. Marcus, 1958 and consequently, the species in this clade should be classified under Nanuca, mostly as new combinations.
Keywords: ICZN, Dondice, homonym, Heterobranchia
1. Introduction
The genus Nemesis Furfaro & Mariottini, 2021, was introduced based on evidence from a recent integrative systematic study [1] (Furfaro & Mariottini, 2021) for an independent lineage of aeolid nudibranchs, and Dondice banyulensis Portmann & Sandmeier, 1960 [2], was established as the type species. The newly identified lineage is currently monospecific and characterized by (i) the central cusp of the radular tooth that is not marked and a little longer than lateral denticles, (ii) the long distal and proximal deferent ducts of the male portion of the reproductive system and (iii) its inability to autotomise the cerata when stressed by possible predators. Just after the publication of our paper, Luigi Romani (Lucca, Italy) sent to us a letter (e-mail: 18.06.2021) where he noted that in our recent manuscript, we have evidently missed the existence of a senior homonym, Nemesis Risso, 1826 [3] (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature - ICZN, 1999: Article 53.2) [4]. In fact, in 1826, Risso established this genus for a group of Copepoda (Arthropoda, Crustacea) and according to the Principle of Priority (ICZN, 1999: Article 52.3) [4], when two or more names are homonyms, only the senior may be used as a valid name. Therefore, a new replacement name is here proposed under the Article 60.3 of ICZN. Furthermore, Philippe Bouchet (Paris, France) pointed out to us that Nanuca Er. Marcus, 1957 [5], has priority over Dondice Er. Marcus, 1958 [6]. Consequently, the species in this clade should be classified under Nanuca, mostly as new combinations.
2. Results and Discussion
Taxonomy
Familia Myrrhinidae Bergh, 1905 [7]
Genus Nemesignis nom. nov. pro Nemesis Furfaro & Mariottini 2021 (non Risso, 1826)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DEED49D6-F89B-4D68-A8A3-E1071197264C
Type species.Dondice banyulensis Portmann & Sandmeier, 1960.
Etymology. The genus name Nemesignis comes from the union of the Greek word Nemesis, that recalls the homonymous Greek goddess and her role of compensatory justice, with the Latin word Ignis, that is the fire that burns and blazes, linked to the fiery red colour of the type species of the genus.
Included species.N. banyulensis (Portmann & Sandmeier, 1960).
Genus Nanuca Er. Marcus, 1957
Type species.Nanuca sebastiani Er. Marcus, 1957
= Dondice Er. Marcus, 1958 (type species: Caloria occidentalis Engel, 1925 [8])
Included species.Nanuca sebastiani Er. Marcus, 1957, Nanuca galaxiana (Millen & Hermosillo, 2012) comb. nov. [9], N. occidentalis (Engel, 1925) comb. nov., N. parguerensis (Brandon & Cutress, 1985) comb. nov. [10], N. trainitoi (Furfaro & Mariottini, 2020) comb. nov. [11].
3. Conclusions
The presence of a senior homonym, which has priority over the recently stated Nemesis Furfaro & Mariottini, 2021, made this latter genus name as invalid and invoked the need for a replacement name according to the rules of the ICZN. Therefore, Nemesignis nom. nov. is here proposed as the new replacement name, under the Article 60.3 of ICZN and consequently, Nemesignis banyulensis (Portmann & Sandmeier, 1960) is its type species. Finally, since Nanuca Er. Marcus, 1957 has priority over Dondice Er. Marcus, 1958, the species in this clade should be classified under Nanuca, as Nanuca galaxiana (Millen & Hermosillo, 2012) comb. nov., N. occidentalis (Engel, 1925) comb. nov., N. parguerensis (Brandon & Cutress, 1985) comb. nov., N. trainitoi (Furfaro & Mariottini, 2020) comb. nov.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Luigi Romani (Lucca, Italy) for alerting us of this homonymy and to Philippe Bouchet (Paris, France) for his suggestions. We thank the two anonymous reviewers that helped to improve the manuscript. Finally, we would like to deeply thank Marco Oliverio (Rome, Italy) for his constant help.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, G.F. and P.M.; validation, G.F. and P.M.; writing—original draft preparation, G.F.; writing—review and editing, P.M.; supervision, G.F. and P.M. Both authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This research received no external funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Footnotes
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
References
- 1.Furfaro G., Mariottini P. Looking at the nudibranch family Myrrhinidae (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) from a mitochondrial ‘2D folding structure’ point of view. Life. 2021;11:583. doi: 10.3390/life11060583. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Portmann A., Sandmeier E. Dondice banyulensis sp. nov. un Eolidien nouveau de la Méditerranée. Rev. Suisse Zool. 1960;67:159–168. doi: 10.5962/bhl.part.75264. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Risso A. Histoire Naturelle des Principales Productions de l’Europe Mèridionale et Particulièrement de Celles des Environs de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes. Volume 5 F.G. Levrault; Paris, France: 1826. [Google Scholar]
- 4.ICZN [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 4th ed. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature; London, UK: 1999. p. xxix + 306. [Google Scholar]
- 5.Marcus E. On opisthobranchia from Brazil (2) Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 1957;43:390–486. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1957.tb01559.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 6.Marcus E. On western Atlantic opisthobranchiate gastropods. Am. Mus. Novit. 1958;1906:1–82. [Google Scholar]
- 7.Bergh L.S.R. Die Opisthobranchiata der Siboga-expedition. Siboga-Exped. 1905;50:1–248. [Google Scholar]
- 8.Engel H. Westindische opisthobranchiate Mollusken. Bijdragen tot de kennis der fauna van Curaçao. Resultaten eener reis van Dr. C. J. van der Horst in 1920. Bijdr. Tot Dierkd. 1925;24:33–80. doi: 10.1163/26660644-02401005. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 9.Millen S.V., Hermosillo A. Three new species of aeolid nudibranchs (Opisthobranchia) from the Pacific coast of Mexico, Panama and the Indopacific, with a redescription and redesignation of a fourth species. Veliger. 2012;51:145–164. [Google Scholar]
- 10.Brandon M., Cutress C.E. A new Dondice (Opisthobranchia: Favorinidae) predator of Cassiopea in southwest Puerto Rico. Bull. Mar. Sci. 1985;36:139–144. [Google Scholar]
- 11.Furfaro G., Mariottini P. A new Dondice Marcus Er. 1958 (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) from the Mediterranean Sea reveals interesting insights into the phylogenetic history of a group of Facelinidae taxa. Zootaxa. 2020;4731:1–22. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4731.1.1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]