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Cyprea talpa
I should like to take this opportunity to point out the available evidence which negates Schilder's conclusion that Stearns'
use of "isabella-mexicana" is to be interpreted as a subspecific {"ternary"} designation of Cypraea isabella Linné:. In the
paper in which Cypraea isabellamexicana was described, Stearns (1893:345, 351, 352) clearly used ternary nomenclature in
proposing the names of other taxa, namely: "Chicoreus palma-rosae Mexicana Stearns" and "Chlorostoma gallina, var.
multifilosa Stearns." These same taxa together with a new species, "Cassis (Casmaria) vibex-mexicana Stearns," were again
cited by him a year later (Stearns 1894, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 17(996): 183 188, 189, 199, 203). Actually there is no
evidence to be found in these papers to suggest that Stearns intended to propose his hyphenated names as subspecific names.
Therefore, under the present Code, they should be cited as non-hyphenated, specific names: {Cypraea} isabellamexicana and
{Casmaria} vibexmexicana. On the other hand, Stearns' taxon, "Chicoreus palmarosae Mexicana," may be cited either as a
subspecies or a species: {Murex} palmarosae mexicana, or {Murex} mexicana.
Editor: Prof. Dr. F.A. Schilder's opinion expressed in The Cowry, Nov., 1964, Vol. 1, No. 7, p. 103, is here reproduced in
full. Readers may decide for themselves which opinion they wish to abide by.
"The name of the West-American species allied to Luria isabella Linnaeus, 1758 is mexicana Stearns, 1893, and not (as many
modern American conchologists write) isabellamexicana. In 1961, I have submitted the case to Dr. Otto Kraus, a personal
member of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature: he has discussed the problem with other experts with the
result that "Cypraea isabella-mexicana" is to be regarded as a ternary designation of the subspecies mexicana belonging to
the species isabella; the hyphen connecting the specific and subspecific names has been incorrectly used, in other cases,
also by more modern writers.
"But I agree with the authors Emerson and Old that mexicana is a distinct species."
To illustrate all forms and color variants of P. l. humphreysi would require several plates, and only some have been
illustrated here.
If a new prior name should come to light which would invalidate Gray's C. humphreysi because of primary homonymy or
chronological precedence, only then would C. l. yaloka take its place; in the meantime, however, C. l. yaloka is a junior
synonym of humphreysi (Gray) and does not even merit to be retained as a "form" name.
I have been asked to comment on the opinion of Prof. Dr. F. A. Schilder (Cowry, 1964, 1(7):103) that "The name of the
West-American species allied to Luria isabella Linnaeus, 1758 is mexicana Stearns, 1893, and not (as many modern American
conchologists write) isabellamexicana." Schilder's comment was prompted by our statement: (Emerson and Old, 1963, Amer. Mus.
Novitates, no. 2136, p. 6)"...the component words of an originally proposed compound name are to be united without a hyphen,
and the name is to be treated as originally published in that form," which was based on Articles 26a and 32c(i) of the
current International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
Actually Schilder and I agree on the taxonomic status of Stearns' taxon, which was proposed as "Cypraea (Luponia)
isabella-mexicana" (Stearns, 1893, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 16(941): 348, 352), but we disagree on the nomenclatural status of
this taxon, because of differing interpretations of the above mentioned provisions of the Code. We both concur in the belief
that Stearns' taxon is a distinct species which is closely related to Cypraea isabella Linné of the Indo-Pacific fauna.
Schilder, however, cites Stearns' taxon as {Cypraea} mexicana, believing that " 'Cypraea isabella-mexicana' is to be regarded
as a ternary designation of the subspecies mexicana belonging to the species isabella." Whereas I cite Stearns' taxon as
{Cypraea} isabellamexicana, following a literal interpretation of the Code.
Official interpretations of the provisions of the Code must be based on decisions made by all the members of the
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, and until this matter has been decided by this body, students must use
their own judgment, based on objective criteria, in interpreting the Code.
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