Amendment of Articles 8, 9, 10, 21 and 78 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature to expand and refine methods of publication

The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature has voted in favour of a revised version of the amendment to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature that was proposed in 2008. The purpose of the amendment is to expand and refine the methods of publication allowed by the Code, particularly in relation to electronic publication. The amendment establishes an Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (with ZooBank as its online version), allows electronic publication after 2011 under certain conditions, and disallows publication on optical discs after 2012. The requirements for electronic publications are that the work be registered in ZooBank before it is published, that the work itself state the date of publication and contain evidence that registration has occurred, and that the ZooBank registration state both the name of an electronic archive intended to preserve the work and the ISSN or ISBN associated with the work. Registration of new scientific names and nomenclatural acts is not required. The Commission has confirmed that ZooBank is ready to handle the requirements of the amendment.     

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.     

Isolation and characterization of visceral excitatory neuropeptides from striped mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) brain

From a brain extract of the catadromous fish, striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), two visceral excitatory neuropeptides (Mvp-1 and Mvp-2) were isolated by means of reversed phase chromatography together with bioassay on fish hindgut. The primary structure of Mvp-1 was elucidated to be SGPAGVLamide by ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometry. The threshold concentration of Mvp-1 that changes spontaneous contraction of mullet hindgut was between 10(-9) and 10(-8) M. In addition, Mvp-1 was found to exert excitatory activities on some other smooth muscle segments (oviduct and esophagus) of mullet but it did not show any effect on body wall muscle strips. Therefore, the present study suggests that Mvp-1 and Mvp-2 peptides act as factors that control visceral contractions of mullet gastrointestinal tract.     

Diagnosis of Dysponetinae (Chrysopetalidae,Annelida)

The subfamily Dysponetinae (Annelida, Chrysopetalidae) was proposed by Aguado et al. (Cladistics 29, 610) based on a phylogenetic analysis including morphological and molecular information. However, as a differential diagnosis of the new subfamily, as required by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, was not included, the name was not made available. A diagnosis of the subfamily is proposed herein to correct this oversight.     

Characteristic features of the ranks genus and subgenus, and an intercalary rank "species complex" in ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

The work was carries our from the standpoint of the morphological conception of species. Vast collections of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science testify to the existence of hiatuses in both genera and subgenera of Palearctic ixodids at all active phases of their ontogenesis. The fact that the subgenera of Palearctic genera have been well studies is notes, and composition of the subgenera is presented. The question of a taxonomic intercalary rank "species complex" is considered in detail in the context of the coevolution between some complexes of closely related species of ixodid ticks and some closely related species (genospecies, strains) of pathogens. The question of the taxonomic rank "species complex" in ixodid ticks as a phyletic species association is postulated on the basis of comparative ontogenetic data. Nomenclature status of the intercalary association "species complex" is specified in conformity with the fourth edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Species composition of most studied complexes is presented. Some variants of morphological differentiation between species complexes within subgenus are considered. Significance of the taxonomic concept "species complex" for zoological. parasitological, and medical aspects of the ixodid ticks study was evaluated. Prognostic significance of the rank "species complex" for the study of the relationships between ixodid ticks and pathogens is discussed.     

Hapantotypes: a possible solution to some problems of parasite nomenclature

Parasites usually have several morphologically distinct stages in their life cycles. Some infect different host species at different stages of their development, and many are distinguished partly by the lesions caused in their hosts. Molecular techniques, seeking to clarify host-parasite relationships, often attempt definition o f species or subspecies in terms of enzyme profiles, DNA 'finger-prints', or other subcellulor characteristics. So, under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, what carries the species name? Which 'specimen' represents the unique name-bearing reference for a specific name? The problem is particularly daunting for parasitologists. In this article, Ray Williams discusses the idea that instead of a single 'type specimen', a suite of specimens - the hapontotype - representing several stages in the life cycle of a species would be a more useful concept.     

Phororhacoidea or Phorusrhacoidea? A note on the nomenclature of the “terror birds”

The Phorusrhacidae, a group of large terrestrial carnivorous birds mostly known from the Cenozoic of South America, are often placed in a superfamily, for which the taxon name Phororhacoidea Patterson, 1941 is frequently used. However, according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Phororhacoidea is not valid. The proper taxon name at the superfamily level is Phorusrhacoidea Ameghino, 1889.     

Bacteriological aspects of fin erosion in mullet exposed to crude oil

An investigation was undertaken to determine the effect of two types of crude oil on mullet ( Mugil cephalus ). The data presented in this report establishes a relationship between the exposure of the mullet to crude oils and the outbreak of fin rot. The data also indicates that the diversity of the microflora on the exterior of the mullet was reduced from 5-6 to 1-2 colonial types, one of which was consistently a species of the genus Vibrio.     

泥盆纪双壳类假似栗蛤属(PseudonuculanaPojeta,ZhangandYang,1986)之修订

对Nuculoidea resupina Guo, 1985、Pseudonuculana zhaoi Pojeta, Zhang and Yang, 1986和Skyphoconcha beichuanensis Liu and Gu, 1988这3个种进行比较后, 确定了它们的同物异名关系, 确认船形蛤属(Skyphoconcha Liu and Gu)是假似栗蛤属(Pseudonuculana Pojeta, Zhang and Yang)的次异名。澄清了此属的韧带性质, 并对其属征进行修订。鉴于其无弹体窝, 外套线完整, 现将它改归至小帽蛤亚科(Cucullellinae)。根据“国际动物命名法规”第四版, 作为首异名的Nuculoidea resupina Guo, 虽享有优先权, 却不可以被引证为本属的模式种; 原始指定的模式种Pseudonuculana zhaoi仍保持其模式种携名者的地位不变。