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IRMNG taxon details

Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758

10839599  (urn:lsid:irmng.org:taxname:10839599)

accepted
Species
marine
recent + fossil
Not documented
Taxonomic remark From ITIS (2023): Neotype designated by Husson and Holthuis (1974:212). Linnaeus used both catodon and macrocephalus in the...  
Taxonomic remark From ITIS (2023): Neotype designated by Husson and Holthuis (1974:212). Linnaeus used both catodon and macrocephalus in the 10th edition. P. catodon has line priority and, according to Linnaeus' diagnoses [in one interpretation], is the only name applicable. See Hershkovitz (1966a:121), Schevill (1986, 1987b), Holthuis (1987), and Rice (1989, who also reviewed the species). Note that "line priority" (cited by some sources as justification for using Physeter catodon over P. macrocephalus) is not supported by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. If these names are both properly applicable to the sperm whale then the Principle of First Reviser applies, in which case P. macrocephalus is the valid name (de Selys-Longchamps (1839) used macrocephalus with catodon in synonymy). In recent confusion on the use of Physeter macrocephalus or P. catodon (both available from Linnaeus (1758)) for the sperm whale, the arguments ultimately hinge on whether or not both are applicable to this species. Based on careful consideration of the cited works & ICZN, the typification acts (Husson & Holthuis 1974, and Art. 72.4.1.1) are valid, so the names are conspecific, the Principle of the First Reviser (Art. 24.2, and Holthuis 1987) applies, and P. macrocephalus is the correct name.

According to Jefferson et al., 2023, de Selys-Longchamps, 1839 "does not satisfy the ICZN’s requirements for the first reviser"; these authors state that the actual first reviser is Wagner (1847), who also used macrocephalus over catodon, so the situation regarding synonymy is unchanged. [details]
IRMNG (2021). Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed at: https://www.irmng.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=10839599 on 2024-03-29
Date
action
by
2006-09-20 22:00:00Z
created
2011-12-31 23:00:00Z
changed

basis of record WoRMS (Mar 2013) [details]   

basis of record CoL2006/ITS [details]   

current name source Jefferson, T. A.; Mead, J. G.; Kinze, C. C. (2023). Nomenclature of the larger toothed whales (Odontocetes): a historical review. <em>Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology.</em> 655: 1-78., available online at https://doi.org/10.5479/si.21954029 [details]   

extant flag source CoL2006, PaleoDB [details]   

habitat flag source Aphia2006/ERMS,  [details]   
From other sources
Taxonomic remark From ITIS (2023): Neotype designated by Husson and Holthuis (1974:212). Linnaeus used both catodon and macrocephalus in the 10th edition. P. catodon has line priority and, according to Linnaeus' diagnoses [in one interpretation], is the only name applicable. See Hershkovitz (1966a:121), Schevill (1986, 1987b), Holthuis (1987), and Rice (1989, who also reviewed the species). Note that "line priority" (cited by some sources as justification for using Physeter catodon over P. macrocephalus) is not supported by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. If these names are both properly applicable to the sperm whale then the Principle of First Reviser applies, in which case P. macrocephalus is the valid name (de Selys-Longchamps (1839) used macrocephalus with catodon in synonymy). In recent confusion on the use of Physeter macrocephalus or P. catodon (both available from Linnaeus (1758)) for the sperm whale, the arguments ultimately hinge on whether or not both are applicable to this species. Based on careful consideration of the cited works & ICZN, the typification acts (Husson & Holthuis 1974, and Art. 72.4.1.1) are valid, so the names are conspecific, the Principle of the First Reviser (Art. 24.2, and Holthuis 1987) applies, and P. macrocephalus is the correct name.

According to Jefferson et al., 2023, de Selys-Longchamps, 1839 "does not satisfy the ICZN’s requirements for the first reviser"; these authors state that the actual first reviser is Wagner (1847), who also used macrocephalus over catodon, so the situation regarding synonymy is unchanged. [details]

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