Thoricthys maculipinnis vs. T. ellioti

[mauriciodelamaza]

Hello everybody,

If I am not mistaken it was Steindachner who described Thorichthys maculipninnis in 1864 as Heros maculipinnis, and Meek who described it as Thoricthys ellioti later in 1904.

Now, I have noticed that while the CRC catalogue has it listed as T. maculipinnis, most other texts including Michi's and Fishbase refer to it as T. ellioti. My question is, which name is correct?, I have always refered to it as Thorichtys maculipinnis based on that name being the oldest description available. Am I wrong? Which is the correct name?

Yours

Mauricio De La Maza

[michi tobler]

Mauricio,

thanks for bringing up this topic. Actually, I'm just preparing this topic for the FCA... here everything in short:

1) T. maculipinnis may be identical with T. ellioti. All the authors I know so far stated "may" or "might" and never came to a definite conclusion. Has nobody ever compared the type material?

2) T. maculipinnis has priority, because it is the older name.

3) T. ellioti may be in prevailing usage. According to the code, a younger name can have priority when the older one was not used for a certain time (nomen oblitum). (Don't ask me what the exact rule is, the copy of my code rests in peace somewhere in a Swiss basement...). This rule is supposed to guarantee more stability in nomenclature.

Thus, there is no definite answer so far, that topic needs further attention.

Cheers, M

[mauriciodelamaza]

Thanks Michi for your response. If I understood well, then so far both seem to be correct?


Yours

Mauricio De La Maza

[michi tobler]

Yes, none and both... depends on the point of view

[Juan Artigas]

Somehow I missed this post, some comments about it follow:

Thorichthys ellioti can't hardly be a nomem protectum: as per the current version of the code (ICZM):

"nomen oblitum (pl. nomina oblita), n.

A Latin term (meaning "forgotten name") applied after 1 January 2000 to a name, unused since 1899, which as a result of an action taken under Article 23.9.2 does not take precedence over a younger synonym or homonym in prevailing usage; the younger name which takes precedence over the nomen oblitum may be called a nomen protectum (q.v.). The term nomen oblitum was also applied to a disused senior synonym rejected between 6 November 1961 and 1 January 1973 under Article 23b of the Code editions then in force (see Article 23.12.2). Nomina oblita remain available names; see Articles 23.9 and 23.12 for conditions controlling their use as valid names."

According to this, and as Thorichthys maculipinnis has been used since 1899 in more than one occasion, it cant' be considered a nomen oblitum.

For more information you can read this:

http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=143

When I wrote that article, I actually made comparissons between the Rio Jamapa population of Thorichthys maculipinnis and Meek's T. ellioti meristic data, finding no differences to note. Meek also clearly states of the high variability of his Thorichthys ellioti populations. I must add this is true for most Thorichthys species. The fact that Thorichthys maculipinnis can be found in several isolated affluents doesn't mean it should make them different taxa. If this were a reason to consider them different species we would have 20 plus T. meek species, for example.

You can also read Michi's comments:

http://www.cichlidae.com/section.php?n=fca&id=48

[Grange]

Juan, you write in the articles that the meaning of the word Thorichthys was defined by Meek as a leaping fish.
Would you explain the etymology? Thor... = ???? Ichthys = fish.

[Lisachromis]

Check here - http://www.wetpetz.com/firemouth.html

I'll quote below for those who don't want to click the link

The genus name Thorichthys is derived from the Greek words thor meaning rushing and ichthys meaning fish. The name was interpreted by Meek to mean leaping fish. The reason is given in Meek's account when he first encountered these fish:
"These little fish are exceedingly numerous in small isolated ponds, especially where there is a considerable amount of vegetation. They are attracted by anything entering the water and will jump out of the water in an apparently playful mood. When abundant they are easily caught, for as soon as your finger touches the water, they will come leaping towards you".

- The species name meeki is a patronym named after Seth Eugene Meek (1859 - 1914), who erected the genus Thorichthys in 1904.

[Juan Artigas]

Grange,

The full account for Thorichthys is found in the Cichlid Room Companion, here:

http://www.cichlidae.com/gallery.php?genus=Thorichthys

It includes Meek comments.

As mentioned before, Seth Eugene Meek interpreted the Greek word thor as leaping, and directly states it so. Whether the meaning is not precise I can´t say at the moment, but I will research it and let you know. I have always trusted Meek in this so far.

[Grange]

Thank you, Lisa. Yes, I know this link, but I wanted to specify because I got strange information in the adjacent topic.


Thank you, Juan. Very good and necessary upgrade of Thorichthys page.

[Juan Artigas]

Sure, in fact, you can also find in the Cichlid Room Companion taxonomic notes on genera like Cryptoheros, Paratheraps, Mikrogeophagus and Cyrtocara. I haven´t updated more for a while, but I will resume this work once I get some more time, probably in my second life

[Lisachromis]

I guess it's all in how you define a word.