On the nomenclature ofPan paniscus

In 1929 a subspecies of chimpanzee was classified asPan satyrus paniscus, a subspecies of theeastern chimpanzee, and elevated to species level,Pan paniscus, in 1933. Review of the literature indicates that this ape type was known since 1881 from several locations throughout the Congo Basin and first scientifically described in 1887 asTroglodytes niger var.marungensis, a subspecies of thewestern chimpanzee. The evidence presented here demonstrates that the synonymmarungensis was known and used as an earlier name. According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the earliest name awarded to a species is the one which has to be recognized in use. However, maintaining the emphasis on stability and assuming that to change the name would cause considerable confusion in the literature, it is this author's recommendation that the earlier namemarungensis be suppressed and the later synonympaniscus be conserved while an application is being considered for ruling by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.