Acronirmus Eichler, 1953

Gustafsson, Daniel R., Bush, Sarah E. & Palma, Ricardo L., 2019, The genera and species of the Brueelia - complex (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) described by Mey (2017), Zootaxa 4615 (2), pp. 252-284 : 254

Availability of Acronirmus Eichler, 1953

Mey (2017: 91) argues that the name Acronirmus Eichler, 1953 is not taxonomically available, claiming that the correct name for that genus-group is Hirundiniella Carriker, 1963 . His argument is based on the lack of a type species designation in the original description of Acronirmus by Eichler (1953), as required by Article 13.3 of the Code (1999).

There is no doubt that Acronirmus Kéler, 1939 is unavailable because, although a type species is designated by monotypy (Article 68.3 of the Code 1999), Kéler (1939) did not include a description of the genus. As a result, Hopkins & Clay (1952: 20) regarded Acronirmus as a nomen nudum. However, Eichler (1953) published the name Acronirmus again, but in an independent publication; thus, Eichler, 1953 became the author and publication date for Acronirmus . Eichler (1953) included a description of the genus and listed a single species under it, i.e. Acronirmus buettikeri Eichler, 1953 , which he described including the designation of a holotype, thus making the name available. In a comparative section of his paper, Eichler (1953) also indicated that he considered Acronirmus gracilis ( Burmeister, 1838) a member of this genus. However, only Ac. buettikeri was described and illustrated by Eichler (1953).

Carriker (1963) also correctly regarded “ Acronirmus Kéler, 1939 ” as a nomen nudum, but failed to notice that Eichler’s (1953) publication of Acronirmus is independent and described the new genus Hirundiniella for the lice that are now placed in Acronirmus Eichler, 1953 .

Price et al. (2003) considered Ac. buettikeri to be the type species of Acronirmus by monotypy. Gustafsson & Bush (2017) agreed with this assessment, but erroneously stated that the type species of Acronirmus was Ac. buettikeri by original designation. Considering that Eichler (1953) only listed a single species explicitly, described and illustrated it by referring to examined specimens, we agree with Price et al. (2003) in considering Acronirmus to be validly described by Eichler (1953). Eichler’s (1953) inclusion of Ac. gracilis in the short comparative section, without mentioning characters of this species, does not, in our opinion, invalidate the designation of Ac. buettikeri as the type species by monotypy.