Note "Spelling: Gelder (2024: 134) did not correct -odonta to -odontus for agreement with masculine Sathodrilus and he explains his reasoning. He writes that in Pierantoni (1906) "The Latinized prefix ‘tetra-’ joins the root ‘odontus’, but in this case the ‘-us’ ending has been changed to ‘-a’. As Pierantoni’s intention on its form is not known, it must be treated as a noun in apposition, with the original spelling retained according to Art. 31.2.2 (ICZN 1999)." However, it is quite clear that Pierantoni intended a feminine adjective, following the example of the prior name of Whitman, Branchiobdella pentadonta (often as 'pentodonta') and similar names all referring to the number of jaw teeth. A compound Latinized word describing the number of teeth can only be an adjective (ie in English it means the 'four-toothed Branchiobdella') and Branchiobdella is feminine hence Pierantoni used the -odonta form. Whether the original spelling was the best quality Latin to indicate an adjective is not relevant. I" for taxon Sathodrilus tetrodonta (Pierantoni, 1906) has been added by Geoffrey Read via the webinterface on 2024-05-22T02:17:56+00:00
↧