Mardoell Danielssen, 1890

Low, Martyn E. Y. & Reimer, James Davis, 2012, Zoanthid housekeeping: some nomenclatural notes on the Zoantharia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia), Zootaxa 3485, pp. 83-88 : 84-85

Mardoell Danielssen, 1890 , Mardoellia Blanchard, 1893 , and Mardoellidae Danielssen, 1890 (nomen oblitum), synonyms of Epizoanthus Gray, 1867 , and Epizoanthidae Delage & Hérouard, 1901 (nomen protectum): reversal of precedence

Based on Erdmann’s (1886: 481–486, figs. 3, 4, pl. 4, fig. 17) description of an unnamed zoanthid genus and species, as well as additional data, Danielssen (1890: 116–126) established the new genus and species, Mardoell erdmanni and the new family Mardoellidae . As only one species was included in the description, Mardoell erdmanni is the type species of Mardoell by monotypy (Article 68.3 of the Code). The gender of the genus-group name Mardoell , the name of a Norse goddess is feminine (Article 30.2.1 of the Code). Blanchard (1893: 130) emended this name to Mardoellia based on the rules of nomenclature then in force, an action which was justified at that time. Under the current Code (ICZN 1999), the name Mardoell Danielssen, 1890 , is available, and the emendation Mardoellia is unnecessary. The unnecessary emendation Mardoellia is a junior objective synonym of Mardoell Danielssen, 1890 , with authorship attributable to Blanchard (1893) (Article 19.1 of the Code).

Lwowsky (1913: 603, 604) discussed the identity of Mardoell erdmanni Danielssen, 1890 , and considered it to be a valid species but transferred it to the genus Sidisia Gray, 1858 , clearly considering Mardoell Danielssen, 1890 , to be a junior synonym of Sidisia Gray, 1858 . We refrain from making a decision on the validity of the species Mardoell erdmanni Danielssen, 1890 , until the type material is located and examined, but agree with Lwowsky (1913) that Mardoell Danielssen, 1890 , is synonym of Sidisia Gray, 1858 , and thus Epizoanthus Gray, 1867 (see below).

In Opinion 1689 ( ICZN 1992: 236), the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature ruled that the name Sidisia Gray, 1858 , should be suppressed in favour of Epizoanthus Gray, 1867 . The name Mardoell Danielssen, 1890 , is thus also a subjective synonym of Epizoanthus Gray, 1867 , but the latter—which is in prevailing use—has priority over the former. The genus Epizoanthus Gray, 1867 , is also the basis of the valid and widely-used family Epizoanthidae Delage & Hérouard, 1901 (see references cited in the Appendix). As the type genus Mardoell Danielssen, 1890 , is a subjective synonym of Epizoanthus Gray, 1867 , the family name Mardoellidae Danielssen, 1890 , becomes a senior subjective synonym of Epizoanthidae Delage & Hérouard, 1901 .

Replacing Epizoanthidae Delage & Hérouard, 1901 , with Mardoellidae Danielssen, 1890 , is not in the interest of nomenclatural stability, and we invoke Article 23.9 of the Code (as discussed above) to reverse the precedence of both names. The family-group name Mardoellidae Danielssen, 1890 , has not been used as valid name since it was established (thus fulfilling Article 23.9.1.1 of the Code). In the Appendix, we list 30 publications, by 69 different authors in the past 44 years in which the name Epizoanthidae Delage & Hérouard, 1901 , has been used as valid name for the taxon it denotes (thus fulfilling Article 23.9.1.2 of the Code).

As both requirements of Article 23.9.1 are met, and in accordance with Article 23.9.2, the name Epizoanthidae Delage & Hérouard, 1901 , is considered a valid name and takes precedence over Mardoellidae Danielssen, 1890 . Epizoanthidae Delage & Hérouard, 1901 , now becomes a nomen protectum and Mardoellidae Danielssen, 1890 , a nomen oblitum.