The genus name Laranda presents a significant case of zoological homonymy, requiring nomenclatural action under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Laranda Kinberg, 1865 (Polychaeta), established for marine annelids, predicts Laranda Walker, 1869 (Orthoptera), a distinctive genus of Neotropical crickets. This homonymy, unnoticed for over 150 years, was recently identified in the Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna. To ensure nomenclatural stability and universality, we propose Unacla nom. n. as a replacement name for the cricket genus Laranda Walker, 1869, which is a junior homonym and, therefore, invalid. This note details the type material and distinguishing features of both taxa, justifying the proposed name change and its implications for systematics.

Priority vs. tradition—Tracheliastes polycolpus von Nordmann, 1832 (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae) revisited!

The name Bombus flavifrons has been applied to two different bumble bee species in North America, one described by Ezra Cresson in 1863, the other by Frederick Smith in 1866. Bombus flavifrons Cresson, 1863 is currently considered the valid name for a common and widespread species in western North America, while B. flavifrons Smith, 1866 is considered a junior homonym of B. flavifrons Cresson, and thus not available. Consequently, B. columbicus Dalla Torre, 1890 was offered as a replacement name for B. flavifrons Smith. Smith’s taxon was described from a now-lost type specimen taken on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada but has been considered a junior synonym of B. vosnesenskii Radoszkowski, 1862 since 1888. Prior to 2012 no other records of B. vosnesenskii were known from Vancouver Island, and it was considered very rare in Canada up until the early 2000s, known only from a few specimens from the southcentral mainland of British Columbia adjacent to the United States border. Bombus caliginosus (Frison, 1927) was not recorded in the literature from Canada until 2014 and is known only from five specimens collected in the 1970s at Victoria, Vancouver Island. Bombus caliginosus is distinguishable from B. vosnesenskii with some difficulty. Due to the morphological similarity of B. vosnesenskii and B. caliginosus, and their historical scarcity and disjunct distributions in Canada, we propose that B. flavifrons Smith is conspecific with B. caliginosus, a species that was not described until almost 40 years after the synonymy of B. flavifrons Smith under B. vosnesenskii. As the type specimen of Smith’s taxon is seemingly lost, we also designate a neotype of B. flavifrons Smith from Vancouver Island to support the proposed nomenclature. Though Bombus columbicus is here considered a senior synonym of B. caliginosussyn. nov., under Article 23.9.1 of the ICZN Code, we designate the name nomen oblitum to maintain the prevailing use of B. caliginosus for this taxon.

This study provides a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the carpenter moth family Cossidae (Lepidoptera: Cossoidea) in Georgia, located within the South Caucasus region. Integrating historical records, museum collections, and recent field surveys, we present an updated fauna comprising 22 species across 13 genera. Five species are described here as new to science: Dyspessa confusa Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian, sp. nov. (), Dyspessa parvana Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian, sp. nov. (), Stygioides jarii Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian, sp. nov. (), Stygioides mirifica Japaridze, Makharadze, Bulbulashvili, Seropian, sp. nov. (), and Phragmataecia ignota Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian, sp. nov. () The genus Stygioides Braund, 1853 is recorded from Georgia for the first time. Additionally, Deserticossus volgensis (Christoph, 1893), Dyspessa cerberus Daniel, 1939, and D. tsvetaevi Yakovlev, 2008 are newly recorded from the South Caucasus. Based on re-examination of material, Dyspessa alpherakyi Christoph, 1885, D. pallidata Staudinger, 1892, and Isoceras bipunctatum Staudinger, 1887 are excluded from the Georgian fauna. The name Holcocerus didmanidzae Yakovlev, 2006 is corrected to Holcocerus didmanidzeae Yakovlev, 2006 in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Detailed collection data, diagnostic images, and COI barcode sequences of eight species are provided to support future ecological and biogeographical studies.

Abstract Advances in molecular techniques have improved our ability to quantify genetic introgression, but they also blur distinctions between hybrids and parental taxa in conservation and taxonomy. Here, we highlight challenges of identifying and defining hybrids within zoological nomenclature. Using high-throughput sequencing data, we show that the holotype of a recently described midwife toad subspecies, Alytes almogavarii inigoi, originates from a wide hybrid zone with its sister taxon, Alytes almogavarii almogavarii. Although the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature permits names based on admixed hybrid individuals (except F1 hybrids), this case raises questions about the applicability of the name to the intended population. To address this, we introduce a quantitative method for distinguishing admixed from parental specimens, using thresholds of foreign ancestry corresponding to known levels of backcrossing. Our findings reveal that the holotype carries 15% foreign ancestry, which is more than a second-generation backcross and thus too much to represent a distinct, non-admixed population. We therefore provide a replacement name by redescribing the Central Pyrenean lineage of Alytes almogavarii from a genetically pure population. This case illustrates the ambiguity surrounding admixed type specimens under current nomenclatural rules and emphasizes the growing need for clearer guidelines as taxonomy enters the genomic era.

We provide comments and suggestions on the first eight “significant challenges” for zoological nomenclature listed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature in 2024. In particular, we express disagreements regarding six of them, dealing with the term parataxon and related ones, the concept of hemihomonymy, the term polynomen, the Principle of Zoological Independence, differentiation of zoological nomenclature and the pronounciation of nomina. This analysis allows to survey and discuss several basic concepts and terms of zoological nomenclature.

Scientific biological nomenclature underpins all knowledge exchange on biodiversity and works best when the names of organisms are stable. However, science-driven changes to zoological nomenclature are essential to reflect advances in knowledge. In contrast, process-driven changes resulting from historical discoveries followed by strict application of the Code can destabilise nomenclature without representing any gain in taxonomic knowledge. We illustrate this problem using the example of the European Nose-horned Viper, Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758): its Linnaean type was recently reassessed and found not to originate from the western Balkans, as long assumed, but from near Istanbul, European Trkiye. The transfer of the name V. ammodytes ammodytes from its long-standing prevailing usage to the eastern subspecies widely known as V. a. montandoni Boulenger, 1904 would greatly impede the interpretation of a large body of literature and complicate communication about an iconic, widely known venomous snake of public health importance. We emphasise the imperative of nomenclatural parsimony (i.e., the need to minimise changes) when deciding between different possible courses of action required by historical discoveries. We urge researchers into nomenclatural history to safeguard long-established, widely used names, including through petitions to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.

In 1995, it was reported that Mohammed and Ramadan (1996, in press) were soon to describe a new species of lizard haemogregarine, Haemogregarina rawashi, in Ptyodactylus hasselquisti from Egypt, but the paper was never published. This name was suppressed because Mohammed and Ramadan violated the "Criteria for Publication" and "What Constitutes Published Work" sections of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. A redescription of Ha. rawashi, was restricted only to blood forms, which allowed speculation that the data and visual documentation (photomicrographs, line drawings) of the tissue stages were forever lost. However, here we report collecting P. hasselquisti from South Sinai, Egypt and finding 5/20 (25%) infected with haemogregarine-like blood and tissue (liver) stages. The blood stages were comparable with those in an earlier report from Egypt, the liver stages were comparable with those of other Hepatozoon species, and the newly amplified 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequences were similar to other sequenced Hepatozoon species, justifying the reassignment of Ha. rawashi to Hepatozoon rawashi as reported by others.

The diversity of unsegmented freshwater cestodes (Order Caryophyllidea) remains less explored. Globally, 121 valid species across 42 genera are known, whereas India alone has reported over 100 species. Many of these are endemic and new, such as Mystocestus anindoi from Mystus catfishes, and some hold significance in host biogeography and evolution (e.g., Paracaryophyllaeus lepidocephali, the only Indomalayan representative showing vicariance). However, a large proportion of Indian “new taxa” have been described from Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758), a widely available catfish species. Many of these taxa were later invalidated for being indistinguishable with existing species or non-compliance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. This study investigates whether many cestodes reported from C. batrachus represent distinct species or merely exhibit fixative-induced morphological variations. Specimens from C. batrachus were freshly collected, fixed using different fixatives, and analysed with molecular data (hologenophores) to assess their taxonomic validity. Literature data were evaluated to assess the validity of previously described taxa from C. batrachus. Significant morphological variations were observed across different fixatives. However, molecular data confirmed their conspecificity. Although more than 100 new taxa were reported from C. batrachus, only 7 considered as valid. Helminth taxonomy remains in its early stages, with unresolved issues concerning species complexes, cryptic species, generic classification, biogeography, and life cycles. This study underscores the importance of selecting appropriate fixatives and fixation methods for accurate species identification. The most important steps are to follow previously published data and comply with ICZN rules.

We recently published the description of a new agelenid spider Tegenaria amirani (Seropian, Bulbulashvili et Makharadze 2025). However, no holotype depository was indicated in the paper. This is mandatory after 1999 according to the current International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, and the new species name would be a nomen nudum and unavailable (ICZN 1999: Art. 16.4.2). In this corrigendum, we indicate the holotype depository, which we did not include in the original paper. We thank Theo Blick (Hummeltal, Germany) for kindly pointing out this error. To rectify this oversight, we hereby provide the missing depository information: the holotype and all paratypes bearing the sample code CaBOL-ID are deposited in the deposited in the scientific collections of Ilia State University, Georgia, Tbilisi.

The Longitarsus atricillus species group, which includes L. atricillus (Linnaeus 1761), L. aeneicollis (Faldermann 1837), L. nigricollis (Foudras 1860), L. apicalis (Beck 1917), L. danieli Mohr 1962, L. idilphilus Biondi 1984, L. atlanticus Döberl 2002 has been investigated in depth by the study of a large number of specimens. As a result, L. nigricollis, previously a synonym of L. aeneicollis, has been resurrected based on clear morphological differences. The lectotypes of L. aeneicollis and L. nigricollis have been designated and compared with one another; the main comparative features, as well as several new collecting localities of the two species, are reported. The neotype of L. apicalis has been designated. Two new synonymies are proposed: L. rubenticollis (Allard 1860) = L. cribripennis (Abeille 1909) = L. nigricollis (Foudras 1860). The synonymy L. atricillus var. similis Weise 1893 = L. atricillus (Linnaeus 1761) is confirmed. L. bedelii (Uhagón 1887) has been here considered “taxon dubium”. L. danieli is new to Portugal. Action is required (namely an application to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature) to fix the problem of L. atricillus, whose type might be unsuitable to represent the species. A determination key for the whole group has been included.

Scientific names, especially epithets (specific names in the zoological nomenclature), are derived from various factors, not only species characteristics but also cultural backgrounds, such as the names of people. They reflect how species were perceived at the time. However, several ethical issues have been raised, such as naming species after criminals and gender imbalance in eponyms (epithets named after people). Previous research has been conducted through thorough literature reviews with random sampling, which requires significant time and effort. In this study, the accuracy of the automated labeling using a large language model (LLM) was assessed, and the temporal etymological trends of 2705 species of phytophagous arthropods were investigated. LLM-based classification achieved F1 scores above 75% and accuracy above 90% in Morphology, Host, Geography, and People. However, Ecology & Behavior and Other exhibited accuracy issues. Analyses using the generalized additive model (GAM) revealed shifting naming trends, with a decrease in Morphology and an increase in Geography and People, consistent with previous research on spiders. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of LLM-based classification for epithets and provides a new perspective on the social and scientific debates surrounding scientific names based on etymological trends.

The Natural History Museum Vienna houses a valuable and rich mollusc collection that traces back to the early days of the Linnaean system of nomenclature. Its foundation was laid by Emperor Franz I Stephan of Lorraine through the acquisition of the extensive natural history collection of Johann Ritter von Baillou in 1748. After the Emperor’s death, Ignaz von Born was commissioned to organise the imperial collection. Born began with the study of shells and produced a compact yet extensive book in 1778, containing numerous new species, followed by a lavishly illustrated version in 1780. He was among the first to adopt the Linnaean system, thereby making the names he introduced available according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Due to the high number of available names and the early publication of his works, Born’s new species and the collection in Vienna play a pivotal role in molluscan taxonomy. Here, we present specimens from the Born collection bearing type status and belonging to Bivalvia, Scaphopoda, and Brachiopoda, including specimens illustrated by Born and later referred to by other authors for the introduction of new names (e.g., Cardium oblongum Gmelin, 1791; C. ventricosum Bruguière, 1789). We designated the lectotype of Cardium aeolicum Born, 1778 to stabilise the nomenclature. We considered the name Cardium magnum Born, 1780 to be unavailable, and thus its use for the designation of the type species of the genus Dinocardium inappropriate. Therefore, we designated Cardium ventricosum Bruguière, 1789 as the new type species of the genus.

Glaphyrus (Glaphyrus) sabatinellii Ghrejyan, Kalashian & Nikodm, sp. nov. from Hakkari Province, Turkey, is described, illustrated, and compared with related species. Glaphyrus (G.) calvaster Zaitzev, 1923, an endemic species of Armenia, has long remained understudied and enigmatic, known only from a few specimens. Based on a re-examination of type specimens and additional material from various collections, both sexes of G. calvaster are redescribed, with newly revealed diagnostic characters provided. Additionally, a lectotype is designated for G. calvaster according to the Article 74 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

In this study, we documented two species of Bephratelloides Girault, 1913 (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae) collected in Brazilian savanna areas in the state of São Paulo. Bephratelloides duguetiarum Perioto & Lara sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on specimens that emerged from the seeds of Duguetia furfuracea (St. Hil.) Benth. & Hook (Annonaceae). Bephratelloides petiolatus Grissell & Schauff, 1990 is associated with seeds of Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart. (Annonaceae). The name Bephratelloides duguetiphagus Chang, 1998 must be regarded as unavailable because it fails to satisfy the availability criteria of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Denzer & Kaiser (2025) recently published an article in Bionomina in which they criticise Frétey (2024) for using nomina that have been subject to controversy in the herpetological community for over two decades (see Wüster et al. 2001) because they were created in an unscientifically and unethical manner. These nomina were created in works published in a self-published journal, apparently without peer review, as they are rarely based on own scientific work but on findings of others, contain plagiarism and long passages that have been ‘copied and pasted’ even within a single work (see Denzer et al. 2016) and foul and insulting remarks towards other authors. Although this is not a matter of nomenclature but rather of bad science and ethics, such works cannot be ignored by the scientific community if they contain nomenclatural content published in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Anonymous 1999, hereafter ‘the Code’). Therefore, these papers are referred to as ‘taxonomic vandalism’ (Jäch 2007a‒b). Kaiser et al. (2013) recommended ignoring those nomina or, if necessary, overwriting them, hence, setting aside the Code’s most significant principle of priority. According to an impact analysis by Wüster et al. (2021), this recommendation has been accepted almost unanimously within the herpetological community. These authors argue that the support by “[…] multiple professional societies provided the institutional backing and moral authority that empowers subsequent authors to follow their taxonomic judgement [...]”, hence ignoring unscientifically created works and nomina coined therein would be perfectly in line with the spirit of the Code as given in its Preamble. Since the Code does not rule upon taxonomic judgment, the freedom of taxonomic judgement is left untouched. However, referring to the Code’s Preamble, article 23.2 clearly states that “[…] In accordance with the objects of the Code (see Preamble), the Principle of Priority is to be used to promote stability […]” (Anonymous 1999).

Leopardus narinensis was first mentioned in 2018, but at that time it was not available under the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) due to the absence of a designated type specimen and a detailed description. The name only became available in 2023, when the same authors published a formal description in accordance with ICZN requirements. In this study, based on morphological and genetic data, we compared and analyzed the type specimen of L. narinensis with specimens of L. pardinoides (Gray, 1867) from Colombia housed in scientific collections. We conclude that Leopardus narinensis Ruiz-García, Pinedo-Castro & Shostell, 2023, is a junior synonym of Leopardus pardinoides (Gray, 1867). In addition, we highlight problems associated with the use of unavailable names and recommend good practices for taxonomic and systematic studies.

We provide the previously omitted type depository information for three recently described cavernicolous pseudoscorpion species, Neobisium (Neobisium) kozmaniensis sp. nov. from Kozmani Cave, Neobisium (N.) sakishorensis sp. nov. from Sakishore Cave, and Neobisium (N.) kotiasensis sp. nov. from Kotias Klde and Zakarias Klde shafts from Georgia (Caucasus). This clarification is necessary to validate the species names in accordance with the requirements of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN, 1999).

During August through September 2018, strandings and mortalities of smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis [Mitchill, 1815 [Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae]) occurred on Brighton Beach and Coney Island Beach (Brooklyn, New York). Each of the 8 smooth dogfish examined grossly exhibited hemorrhagic meninges, turbid and pink to red cerebrospinal fluid, and soft and friable olfactory lobes. Wet mounts of the cerebrospinal fluid and brain showed intense infection by scuticociliates in each smooth dogfish. Histopathologic examination of the infected brain revealed intensity-dependent necrotizing meningoencephalitis. We identified the scuticociliate as Philasterides dicentrarchiDragesco, Dragesco, Coste, Gasc, Romestand, Raymond, and Bouix, 1995 (Philasterida: Philasteridae). Small-subunit ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (SSU rDNA) sequences (604 base pairs) generated from our specimens were identical (100% nucleotide similarity) to morphologically validated GenBank sequences identified as P. dicentrarchi (JX914665). The 18S phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the GenBank sequences identified as "Miamiensis avidus," except for the type culture sequence KX357144 (which, as per the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature, objectively comprises Miamiensis avidusThompson and Moewus, 1964sensu stricto), represent P. dicentrarchi. Hence, mortalities of leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata Girard, 1855 [Carcharniformes: Triakidae]) and of zebra sharks (Stegostoma tigrinum [Forster, 1781] [Orectolobiformes: Stegostomatidae]) in the Northeast Pacific Ocean represent infections by P. dicentrarchi, which have been misidentified as M. avidus previously, and that no evidence exists of M. avidus infecting an elasmobranch. We also provide a comprehensive list of scuticociliates reported to infect fishes and host species infected worldwide.

Mentophilus Castelnau, 1840 and Tesserodon Hope, 1837 are scarabaeine genera endemic to Australia. Whereas the two species of Mentophilus are restricted to the western coast of the country, the 13 species of Tesserodon are much more widespread. The taxonomy and biogeography of these and other Australasian groups have been scrutinized over the past 50 years, but nomenclatural issues still persist. Here, we address them and conclude that: (1) the name Mentophilus hollandiae Castelnau, 1840, in use since 1974, is actually unavailable and the valid name for the species is Mentophilus carinatus (Reiche, 1841); (2) under Article 23.9.1 of the Code, precedence between the objective synonyms Aulacium Dejean, 1833, nomen oblitum, and Mentophilus Castelnau, 1840, nomen protectum (type species: Aulacium carinatum Reiche, 1841), is reverted, and the validity of Mentophilus is so preserved; (3) the grammatical gender of Tesserodon is masculine, not neuter as treated since the mid-20th century, and adjectival specific names in the nominative case must change their endings accordingly; (4) the name Anisodon Hope, 1837 (nec Lartet, 1851, in Mammalia, nec Rosen, 1905, in Serpentes) is unavailable for failing to comply with Articles 11.5 and 11.6, and so does not threaten the validity of its synonym Tesserodon; (5) the correct original spelling is Tessarodon, a justified emendation established by the original author in an erratum, Tesserodon being formally an incorrect original spelling, thus invalid. To preserve stability, a Case is to be submitted to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature for the conservation of the incorrect spelling; in the meantime, prevailing usage is to be respected. A checklist is presented for all the species of Mentophilus and Tesserodon including information on synonymy, name-bearing types, type localities, and distribution.