A review of the family-group names for - BioOne

COLEOPTERISTS SOCIETY MONOGRAPH NUMBER 5, 2006 145
The purpose of this paper is to review the nomenclatural status and
classification of all Scarabaeoidea family-group names. All names found were
evaluated using the ICZN to determine if they were available for use. The ICZN
was also used to determine the correct spelling, author, and date of all names.
Then the current literature was consulted to determine and extrapolate what
names were valid, what rank they should be classified at, and synonymy with
other taxa. All of this information is summarized in the catalog below.
During the course of my research on Scarabaeoidea family-group names it was
obvious that many family-group name nomenclatural acts lay hidden in old and
sometimes obscure publications. I fully expect that a few additions and
corrections will need to be made as more of these nomenclatural acts are
rediscovered.
Family-Group Names and the ICZN
There is a specific set of rules in place for the validation of family-group names
under the ICZN. For new names (published from 2000 to the present), the basic
criteria for publication and derivation of the name must be met. Family-group
names must be based on a valid genus within that family-group taxon, they must
be explicitly indicated as intentionally new, and the type genus must be explicitly
stated. The name must be formed using a stem based on the type genus (for
example Lucan- for Lucanus) and a suffix for the appropriate family-group rank
(-oidea for a superfamily, -idae for a family, -inae for a subfamily, -ini for a tribe,
and -ina for a subtribe). Generally, the stem of a family-group name is formed by
deleting the case ending of the appropriate genitive singular of a Greek, Latin, or
Latinized genus-group name (for example: Scarabae- for Scarabaeus, Belohin- for
Belohina, Aegiali- for Aegialia, etc.). However, this is not always straightforward
(for example: Trog- for Trox, Heteronych- for Heteronyx, Osmodermat- for
Osmoderma, etc.). Article 29 of the ICZN and Greek and Latin dictionaries
should be carefully consulted before publishing new family-group names. Note
that the stem of a family-group name must always be emended if the spelling of
the type genus is altered or found to be incorrect.
When evaluating names that were published in the past, different rules apply
for different periods of time. Some of the most relevant examples follow below.
The dates below are explicitly cited in the current edition of the rules of
nomeclature (ICZN 1999). Only the current edition of the rules of nomenclature
should be used to evaluate names because this version overrides all previous
versions.
1758–1900: Family-group names first published during this period in vernacular (non-
Latinized) form (for example: Bolbocéraires, Pachypoden, Chasmatoptérides, etc.) are
permitted only when they were subsequently Latinized and generally accepted as valid
dating from the first publication in non-Latinized form. Latinized family-group names are
available simply from their use during this period. No descriptions, definitions, or
indications are necessary other than the requirement that the stem of the family-group name
must be based on an available generic name.
1901–1930: Family-group names must be Latinized to be available during this period or
any time later. Otherwise, a family-group name is available ‘‘by indication’’ simply by using
an available generic name to form the stem. No description is necessary.
1931–1960: Family-group names must be accompanied by a description or definition (or
bibliographic reference to such a published statement) that states characters that
differentiate the taxon (unless the name is a replacement name). An exception to the
preceding exists if a subsequent author validated the name from 1961–1999 using Article 13.