‘Haplochromis’ snoeksi, a new species

[Bojan Dolenc]

‘Haplochromis’ snoeksi (Perciformes: Cichlidae) a new species from the Inkisi River basin, Lower Congo. Soleil WAMUINI L., Emmanuel VREVEN and Pierre VANDEWALLE - 2010
http://bictel.ulg.ac.be/ETD-db/collecti ... e-deux.pdf
Abstract
‘Haplochromis’ snoeksi, new species, is described from a single locality, Ngeba village on the Ngeba /Ngufu River, a right bank affluent of the Inkisi River basin (Lower Congo; Democratic Republic of Congo). The species is distinguished from its riverine Congo River basin congeners by the following unique combination of characters: thorax partially naked, i.e. without small scales; 16 scales around caudal peduncle; and an upper lateral line with 23 scales.

[Juan Artigas]

Is this writing published somewhere? Seems like an in preparation manuscript

[michi tobler]

This looks like an unpublished manuscript, and if so I am sure it is not meant for circulation....

[Bojan Dolenc]

Is this writing published somewhere? Seems like an in preparation manuscript

Look here; seems as Doctorat thesis?
http://bictel.ulg.ac.be/ETD-db/collecti ... 10-215757/

[Bojan Dolenc]

I got this information about this problem:
"What seems to be available is only an online version of a PhD dissertation, dated 11 March 2010.

Electronic-only publications are not available, and consequently nomenclatural acts (such as new names) are also not available under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

It is recommended that students include a disclaimer in their doctoral thesis, to avoid problems with. Indeed this dissertation does include a disclaimer, already on the third page, and it must be respected:

"This PhD. Thesis is disclaimed for purposes of Zoological Nomenclature in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Fourth Edition Articles 8.2 and 8.3 (ICZN, 1999) (see below). No new names or nomenclatural changes are available from statements in this PhD. Thesis.

Article 8.2. (ICZN, 1999: 6) Publication may be disclaimed. A work that contains a statement to the effect that it is not issued for public and permanent record, or for purposes of zoological nomenclature, is not published within the meaning Code.

Article 8.3. (ICZN, 1999) Names and acts may be disclaimed. If a work contains a statement to the effect that all or any of the names or nomenclature purposes, the disclaimed names or acts are not available. Such a work may be a published work (i.e. taxonomic information in it may have the same nomenclatural status as the taxonomic information in a published but suppressed work: see Article 8.7.1.).""

[Mark Smith]

What could be the point of writing a paper with a new species name, if it is not valid from the start? This reminds me of a similar paper that was floating around the internet a few years ago, "describing" Paretroplus ventitry, which was eventually synonymized with P. dami? by Sparks.

[michi tobler]

Mark,
this description was part of a thesis. The author is probably in the process of publishing his work in a peer-reviewed journal. That's common procedure.
Cheers, m

[Mark Smith]

Good to know that, Michi. Since the species name is know known before a formal publication, does that make the species name unavailable according to the rules of zoological nomenclature?

[Juan Artigas]

No it doesn't, as it is really not published in compliance with the ICZM as it is exposed before. He can still use his name providing nobody actually publish it in any context that could be considered a publication by the code.

[Mark Smith]

Thanks Juan.

Hopefully, this paper will be published formally soon.

[SergeS]

See how good this forum is? We get to know new species even before the original author does

[Juan Artigas]

Adding to what I wrote previously, if somebody uses that name in what the code describes as "publication", the future of the name will depend on if the publication complies with a description of a species, in which case the original author would be the person publishing the name, we have several examples on this, like for example the valid authorship for Microgeophagus ramirezi. If however the publication does not comply with the code rules the name could become unavailable. That is why it is not adviceable to release a proposed name before the original publication takes place. I understand however this may not be feasible when a Ph D thesis is in play.

[Philippe Burnel]

I agree

[Rico Morgenstern]

Adding to what I wrote previously, if somebody uses that name in what the code describes as "publication", the future of the name will depend on if the publication complies with a description of a species, in which case the original author would be the person publishing the name

Fortunately, something like this is prevented since the year 2000 by the current edition of the ICZN:

16.1. All names: intention of authors to establish new nominal taxa to be explicit. Every new name published after 1999, including new replacement names (nomina nova), must be explicitly indicated as intentionally new.

6.4. Species-group names: fixation of name-bearing types to be explicit. Every new specific and subspecific name published after 1999, except a new replacement name [...], must be accompanied in the original publication

16.4.1. by the explicit fixation of a holotype, or syntypes, for the nominal taxon [...], and,

16.4.2. where the holotype or syntypes are extant specimens, by a statement of intent that they will be (or are) deposited in a collection and a statement indicating the name and location of that collection

This is certainly a wise and important ruling in the age of www, as new scientific names frequently get into circulation before they are published in the sense of the code. At least, a name can no longer be made available unintentionally - let's say by mentioning it in a book ore journal article together with a descriptive notes. Nevertheless, the perfidity of some people should not be underestimated. Someone could seize the data from the unpublished description and publish them in a way that the requirements are fulfilled... So let's hope that noone does so and the description will soon be published.

BTW: Has somebody taken a look at the 'remaining' dissertation? It's a fantastic work on a river and its ichthyofauna, highly recommendable to all who are interested in African freshwater fishes

[SergeS]

BTW: Has somebody taken a look at the 'remaining' dissertation? It's a fantastic work on a river and its ichthyofauna, highly recommendable to all who are interested in African freshwater fishes

I had a quick glance, and it does look very interesting indeed French plus English even

[Thomas Andersen]

The description is now official:

Wamuini Lunkayilakio, S. & Vreven, E. (2010): ‘Haplochromis’ snoeksi, a new species from the Inkisi River basin, Lower Congo (Perciformes: Cichlidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 21 (3): 279-288.