V.—Brachiopod Nomenclature: Spirifer and Syringothyris

Abstract

According to a strict interpretation of the international rules of zoological nomenclature the generic name Spirifer is wrongly used for the group including Anomites striatus, Martin, and should be restricted to the group including Anomites cuspidatus, Martin, i.e. it should replace Syringothyris, Winchell. My object in pointing this out is not to urge a strict interpretation of the international rules in this case, for it would serve no useful purpose to attempt to displace a name which through a century of usage has become the geological equivalent of a household word, but to show the need for geologists to combine with zoologists in demanding a list of nomina conservanda in zoology.