Nomenclatural notes on the eurypterid family Carcinosomatidae

摘要

The genus level systematics of the eurypterid family Carcinosomatidae (Chelicerata Eurypterida) is briefly reviewed, with particular reference to some nomenclatural problems associated with homonyms and their replacement names. Eusarcus scorpionis Grote & Pitt, 1875 is the type species of both Eusarcana Strand, 1942 and Paracarci-nosoma Caster & Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964. Although Strand's name has been completely overlooked in the eurypterid literature, it remains the oldest available (and valid) name associated with Eusarcus scorpionis. It should be noted that Strand replaced a homonym under circumstances when this was not really necessary, but the Principle of Priority means that we are forced to reclassify three Paracarcinosoma species under hisgenus name as Eusarcana scorpionis (Grote & Pitt, 1875), Eusarcana acrocephala (Semper, 1898) and Eusarcana obesa (Woodward, 1868); all comb. nov.