Case 3692Columba liviaGmelin, 1789 andColumba livia domesticaLinnaeus, 1758 (Aves, columbidae): proposed conservation of specific and subspecific names in conformance with prevailing usage

Abstract

The purpose of this application, under Article 23.9.3 of the Code, is to conserve the existing usage of the name Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 by granting livia Gmelin, 1789 precedence over the names domestica Linnaeus, 1758, gutturosa Linnaeus, 1758 and cucullata Linnaeus, 1758, whenever any of them is considered a synonym of livia. The three latter names are all subjective senior synonyms that cannot be subject to reversal of precedence under Article 23.9.1 of the Code. Columba livia Gmelin, 1789, the rock dove or rock pigeon, is a common bird species of pan-global distribution, the ‘wild stem’ of feral pigeons and domestic pigeon breeds and a species of economic and cultural importance. In order to conserve the trinomen Columba livia domestica Linnaeus, 1758, which has some modern usage in experimental biology for feral populations and domestic breeds when such a distinction is desired at the subspecies level, it is additionally proposed under Article 23.9.3 to set aside Article 24.1 of the Code and grant domestica Linnaeus, 1758 precedence over both gutturosa Linnaeus, 1758 and cucullata Linnaeus, 1758 whenever either of the latter is considered a synonym of the former.