1 Topic by kitenet (edited by kitenet 21-08-2013 14:23:13)

  • kitenet
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  • Registered: 11-05-2006
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Topic: cranefly Limonia/Metalimnobia quadrimaculata

The taxon "Limonia quadrimaculata (Linnaeus, 1761)" (TVK: NBNSYS0000008052) is listed in the NHM inventory as well-formed but not recommended:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/ … ulata.html

However, it doesn't appear to be linked to a recommended name. I believe it should be linked to "Metalimnobia quadrimaculata (Linnaeus, 1761)" (TVK: NBNSYS0100004017), although this synonymy is not recognised in the Chandler checklist. Fauna Europaea has a number of synonyms:
http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=145582

The JNCC spreadsheet of conservation statuses includes "Limonia quadrimaculata" as an RDB2 species, as a result of it having been assessed under that name in Steven Falk's 1991 Review. But because the link has not been made to Metalimnobia quadrimaculata, records made under the current name are not receiving the status that they should (albeit based on the old RDB criteria).

Is it possible to link these names in the NHM inventory, and get the JNCC status list updated?

Thanks.

Martin Harvey
Biological Records Centre
CEH Wallingford

kitenet's Website

2 Reply by ChrisR

  • ChrisR
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Re: cranefly Limonia/Metalimnobia quadrimaculata

Hi Martin

I can certainly synonymise the Limnobia name under the Metalimnobia - that's in the list to do asap. The name is well-formed but the status is actually 'unchecked' so it looks like it was added but someone didn't review its status or was unsure about it and left it in limbo.

Designations are a different kettle of fish though. Designations are usually held under the name that the taxon was given in the published document but, for anyone reporting on them, I would always recommend that they pass the query through Nameserver to get the current recommended scientific name. :)

Best wishes,
Chris R.

Chris Raper, Manager of the UK Species Inventory, Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity,
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.  (tel: 020 7942 5894)
also Tachinid Recording Scheme (http://tachinidae.org.uk/)