TABLE CONTENTS

Nomenclator Nematologicus: An Online Source of Nomenclatorial
Information
Holovachov, O. (1), G. Karssen (2, 3), P.A.A. Loof (2), V. Demchuk (4) & T. Bongers (2)
(1) Department of Nematology, University of California – Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; (2) Plant
Protection Service, 6700 HC Wageningen, The Netherlands; (3) Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen
University, 6700 ES Wageningen, The Netherlands; (4) Biological faculty, Ivan Franko National University of
Lviv, Lviv 79005, Ukraine.
For taxonomical purposes it is important to know which species are described in a given
taxon, the status of those species, references to the most recent identification keys and
references to descriptions which appeared after the most recent key was published. For that
reason, Dr. P.A.A. Loof of the Wageningen University started to register all new species
descriptions and nomenclatorial changes of terrestrial, freshwater and marine nematodes,
excluding animal parasites; and his efforts are now taken over by Dr. G. Karssen. This unique
nomenclatorial data system refers to the name of a genus, the type-species of that genus,
species included, and identification keys for the species. At species level information is
available regarding all nominal species, references, authors, original name, additional
descriptions, synonyms, homonyms, status and opinions. Up to this year the data were
available as a card file only for those working or visiting Wageningen University. The next
step was to upgrade the data system to be electronically available on the World Wide Web so
that new homonyms caused by overlooking existing names will be things of the past, and to
offer every author, describing a new Aphelenchoides, Eudorylaimus, Rhabditis or member of
another taxon the possibility to compare the specimens at hand with all hitherto described
nominal species, including the doubtful ones, and to provide them of a list with all occupied
names. This year the online version of the database will be released for free access under the
name ‘Nomenclator Nematologicus’. The only way to keep this system up to date is to check
the literature regarding new species descriptions and nomenclatorial changes weekly.
Therefore we would be very pleased to receive reprints of new species descriptions,
additional morphological descriptions and nomenclatorial changes especially if they are
published in hardly accessible local journals and books.
5 th International Congress of Nematology, 2008 114