Resolving nomenclatural ‘confusion’ vis-à-vis Latham’s Francolin (Francolinus/Peliperdix/Afrocolinus lathami) and the ‘Red-tailed’ francolins (Francolinus/Ortygornis/Peliperdix spp.)

Abstract

We provide an addendum vis-à-vis Mandiwana-Neudani et al. (2019a) on the taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of ‘true’ francolins: Galliformes, Phasianidae, Phasianinae, Gallini; Francolinus, Ortygornis, Afrocolinus gen. nov., Peliperdix and Scleroptila spp., Mandiwana-Neudani et al. (2019b). Mandiwana-Neudani et al. (2019a) proposed the use of a new generic epithet, Afrocolinus, for Latham’s Francolin Francolinus lathami and restricting Peliperdix to an expanded set of Hall’s (1963) Red-tailed francolins. However, Afrocolinus cannot be used for lathami, because lathami is the type species for the genus Peliperdix (Bonaparte, 1856). We suggest a solution to resolve this nomenclatural conundrum; restrict the use of Peliperdix to lathami and move species taxa currently placed in Peliperdix into a new genus, namely Campocolinus.