Gossea Spence Bate & Westwood, 1862 (Amphipoda) and Gossea Agassiz, 1862 (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa): reversal of presumed precedence and review of the complicated nomenclatural history

Abstract

Abstract Gossea Agassiz, 1862 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) and Gossea Spence Bate & Westwood, 1862 (Crustacea: Amphipoda) are homonyms and Agassiz’s genus has long been considered the senior name. Discovery of copyright information for Agassiz’s book shows that the presumed order of precedence is incorrect and that Spence Bate & Westwood’s genus name is the senior homonym. A detailed history of both genera is given with the recognition that Apherusa Walker, 1891 is an unnecessary replacement name for Gossea Spence Bate & Westwood, 1862 and that Octobulbacea Zamponi, 1983, as the only available junior synonym, is the name that should be used for Gossea Agassiz, 1862.