Setopagis parvula (Gould, 1837)

Smith, Paul, 2017, The identity of Azara's No. 315 “ Ibiyau de cola extraña ” and No. 316 “ Ibiyau anónimo ” (Aves: Caprimulgidae), Zootaxa 4337 (4), pp. 595-599 : 597-598

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4337.4.10

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8130C36F-34F1-4BF7-A432-A3ACE82153ED

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6028321

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0C75E378-6279-C533-1198-A726FD80FBC7

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Setopagis parvula
status

 

Nomenclatural connotations for Little Nightjar Setopagis parvula View in CoL .

Though clearly deriving his texts on Paraguayan nightjars strongly from the work of Azara, Bertoni (1900) employed the names Caprimulgus sphenurus Vieillot, 1817 for a bird he called the “Yvyyahú anónimo” and Caprimulgus epicurus Vieillot, 1817 for a bird he called the “Yvyyahú de cola extraña”, thereby linking both directly with Azara’s original work. This is a crucial step because it represented a post-1899 employment of these otherwise forgotten names and thereby validates them for usage ( ICZN 1999: Art. 23.9.1.1). Caprimulgus sphenurus Vieillot, 1817 (p. 243) has priority over both Caprimulgus parvulus Gould, 1837 and Caprimulgus epicurus Vieillot, 1817 (p. 243), and is thus an available name for the Little Nightjar.

A decade after Vieillot (1817), two other names were also been proposed for Azara’s two nightjars by Merrem (1826), Caprimulgus azarae for No. 316 and C. cordicilla for No. 315, and these also enter into the synonymy of Little Nightjar. Note that the usage of the name “Yvyyahú de Azara” Caprimulgus Azarae Bertoni, 1900 for a “new species” of nightjar from eastern Paraguay is not in the sense of Merrem, 1826 and represents a junior homonym. Caprimulgus Azarae Bertoni, 1900 was not adequately described, the author stating simply that it “has the form of the previous species” in reference to Chordeiles minor (Forster, 1771) , and that it “shows differences in color which I do not consider it necessary to detail here”. With no other keys to its identity, Caprimulgus Azarae Bertoni, 1900 must be considered a nomen dubium.

The ICZN states on its preamble that “priority of publication is a basic principle of zoological nomenclature; however, under conditions prescribed in the Code its application may be modified to conserve a long-accepted name in its accustomed meaning. When stability of nomenclature is threatened in an individual case, the strict application of the Code may under specified conditions be suspended by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.” Therefore, given the long history of usage of the current name Setopagis parvula ( Gould, 1837) and the stated aim of the ICZN Code to maintain stability, it is recommended that the following synonyms of this name be suppressed as nomina oblita and current usage be maintained ( ICZN 1999: Recommendation 23A).

Caprimulgus sphenurus Vieillot, 1817

Caprimulgus epicurus Vieillot, 1817

Caprimulgus enicurus Vieillot, 1823

Caprimulgus azarae Merrem, 1826 (not Caprimulgus Azarae Bertoni, 1900 ) Caprimulgus cordicilla Merrem, 1826

In order to protect this long- and widely-used name, Setopagis parvula ( Gould, 1837) is here declared a nomen protectum. An official proposal to the ICZN will be made forthwith in accordance with ICZN guidelines (1999: Arts. 23.9.2 & 23.9.3) requesting the use of its plenary powers to suppress the above mentioned names in the interests of nomenclatural stability.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Caprimulgiformes

Family

Caprimulgidae

Genus

Setopagis

Loc

Setopagis parvula

Smith, Paul 2017
2017
Loc

Caprimulgus

Azarae Bertoni 1900
1900
Loc

Caprimulgus azarae

Merrem 1826
1826
Loc

Caprimulgus cordicilla

Merrem 1826
1826
Loc

Caprimulgus enicurus Vieillot, 1823

in Vieillot 1823
1823
Loc

Caprimulgus sphenurus

Vieillot 1817
1817
Loc

Caprimulgus epicurus

Vieillot 1817
1817
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