Muscicapa theiogaster ‘Natterer

Kirwan, Guy M., Steinheimer, Frank D., Raposo, Marcos A. & Zimmer, Kevin J., 2014, Nomenclatural corrections, neotype designation and new subspecies description in the genus Suiriri (Aves: Passeriformes: Tyrannidae), Zootaxa 3784 (3), pp. 224-240 : 235

Muscicapa theiogaster ‘Natterer MS’ Pelzeln, 1871: 108

Collection / reference locality. Cimetério, São Paulo ( Paynter and Traylor 1991: 150: between Ipanema 23°26’S, 47°36’W, and Itarare 24°07’S, 49°20’W), Capivari, São Paulo ( Paynter and Traylor 1991: 125; 23°32’S, 46°37’W), Lagas ( Paynter and Traylor 1991: 407: Nas Lages, São Paulo, near Araraquaras 21°05’S, 47°19’W) and Rio das Pedras (see above).

The name Muscicapa theiogaster , from Natterer’s slip catalogue held at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, was first cited by Pelzeln (1871: 108). The name is based on ten specimens collected by Natterer, of which one is the chosen holotype of S. suiriri burmeisteri above. The application of this name by Pelzeln (1871: 108), however, does not qualify as an original description because Pelzeln unambiguously listed the MS name in the synonymy of Elainea affinis Lund and Elaenea affinis Burmeister , respectively:

‘ 86. Elainea affinis (Lund) N. 432.

Muscicapa theiogaster Natterer Catal msc. Muscicapa affinis Lund. msc.

Elaenea affinis Burmeister Thiere Brasiliens II 477 (Lagoa Santa).’

Thus, both Muscicapa jocosa and Muscicapa theiogaster were unquestionably presented as younger synonyms for S. affinis Burmeister. According to the International Code on Zoological Nomenclature ( ICZN 1999: 11, Art. 11.5) a name ‘ must be used as valid for a taxon when proposed ’. Furthermore, ‘ a name which when first published in an available work was treated as a junior synonym of a name then used as valid is not thereby made available ’ (IZCN 1999: 11, Art. 11.6) clearly means that Muscicapa jocosa and Muscicapa theiogaster are not available. We also checked on treatments of both names as the senior homonym and later adoption as the presumed valid names before 1961 without finding any validation act for the names.