Camitia Gray, 1842 – the identity of its type species (Vetigastropoda: Trochidae)

ABSTRACT

A discrepancy between the well-established interpretation and use of the genus-level name Camitia Gray, 1842 and that determined by its currently accepted type species is highlighted. The paradox centres on the true identity of ‘Tr. pulcherrima Gray’ [sic], a name cited by Gray (1847) as the type species of Camitia. One interpretation of this name is that it refers to Trochus pulcherrimus, one of J.E. Gray’s many manuscript names first published by W. Wood in 1828. In which case Camitia is a subjective senior synonym of Prothalotia Thiele, 1930 – an interpretation very much at odds with its current use. Re-evaluation of ‘Tr. pulcherrima Gray’ in the light of the current concept of Camitia suggests that it represents a lapsus calami for Monodonta pulcherrima, another of Gray’s manuscript names, which was not validated until it was figured as Camitia pulcherrima H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854. The latter interpretation serves to preserve the prevailing usage of both Camitia Gray, 1842 and Prothalotia Thiele, 1930. The type species of Camitia Gray, 1842 is shown to be Camitia pulcherrima H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854 by subsequent monotypy.

KEYWORDS:

• Manuscript names
• alternative interpretations
• lapsus calami
• subsequent monotypy
• systematic affinity

Acknowledgements

I thank Andreia Salvador (NHMUK) for searching for type material of Camitia species in the Natural History Museum, London and Kevin Webb (NHMUK, Photographic Unit,) for images thereof. Serge Gofas and Bruce Marshall provided valuable comments during peer review.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).