Zoanthid housekeeping: some nomenclatural notes on the Zoantharia (Cni-daria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia)

Abstract

The identities, authorship and/or spellings of three genusand three family-group names in the order Zoantharia (=Zoanthidea), are clarified. Palythoa axinellae Schmidt, 1862, is designated as the type species of Heterozoanthus Verrill,1870, making this genus-group name an objective synonym of Parazoanthus Haddon & Shackleton, 1891, with prevailingusage of the latter maintained by a reversal of precedence. The family-group name Heterozoanthidae was inadvertentlyestablished by Pax & Müller (1956), and is a junior objective synonym of Parazoanthidae Delage & Hérouard, 1901. Thegenusand family-groups names Mardoell and Mardoellidae (both established by Danielssen 1890) are respectivesynonyms of Epizoanthus Gray, 1867, and Epizoanthidae Delage & Hérouard, 1901, with prevailing usage of the last-named family-group conserved by a reversal of precedence. The genus-group name Mardoellia Blanchard, 1893, is anunjustified emendation and objective synonym of Mardoell Danielssen, 1890. Rafinesque (1815) and not Gray (1832, 1840) is the author of the family-group name Zoanthidae.

The order Zoantharia Rafinesque, 1815 (Cnidaria, Anthozoa: Hexacorallia): supraspecific classification and nomenclature

“…However, over the past two decades, phylogenetic and detailed morphological examinations of zoantharians have resulted in a new understanding of the evolutionary relationships within the order (Sinniger et al 2005, Reimer et al 2007a, 2008a, Reimer and Fujii 2010, Sinniger et al 2010a, 2013, Fujii and Reimer 2011, 2013; Swain et al 2015). Combined with a recent effort to organize the nomenclature of zoantharians (Low and Reimer 2011a, b, 2012a, b), it can be said that much of the Zoantharia nomenclature is now stable, and generally reflects our current understanding of their evolutionary history.…”

“…), and are found in sub-tropical and tropical waters. Authorship of the family-group name Zoanthidae should be attributed to Rafinesque (1815), and not Gray (1832, 1840) (see Low and Reimer 2012a). Three genera are currently assigned to Zoanthidae Rafinesque, 1815.…”

“…Type genus Heterozoanthus Verrill, 1870. The type genus is an objective synonym of Parazoanthus Haddon and Shackleton, 1891, making Heterozoanthidae Pax & Müller, 1956, a junior objective synonym of Parazoanthidae Delage and Hérouard, 1901 (Article 61.3.2 of the Code, ICZN 1999: 64) (see Low and Reimer 2012a: 83, 84).* Hydrozoanthidae Sinniger, Reimer & Pawlowski, 2010: 60. Type genus Hydrozoanthus Sinniger, Reimer & Pawlowski, 2010.…”

“…First established at the rank of subfamily as “Zoanthia” (an incorrect original spelling). Authorship of the family-group name Zoanthidae is conventionally attributed to Gray (1832: 95; 1840: 72), however Rafinesque’s (1815) indication has priority (see Low and Reimer 2012a: 85).…”

“…As electronic name-lists of available and valid names become increasingly accessible, the need to link such lists with nomenclators of names will become an imperative. To this end, listings such as the present one can provide clear linkages between valid names and the huge mass of historical names (most of which are synonyms and some being potentially valid), which will effectively reduce the historical ‘synonymy load’ (Low and Reimer 2012a: 83) and provide a clear list of available supraspecific names of Zoantharia for future researchers.…”