Taxonomic Swap 145081
(Committed on 2024-07-18)
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Comments
@atronox thank you very much for the explanation! In doing the swap I was following the taxonomic arrangements present at BOA, that is usually the database we is as guideline for this change (https://www.butterfliesofamerica.com/L/t/Vettius_a.htm) as it had been called to my attention by some users. I've also checked BOA and Troyus phyllides is listed as a valid species there. I think the better course of action here is the following:
Following standart taxonomic practises and the findings of the paper, the name P. marcus Fabricius nec Cramer falls in synonymy with P. phyllus (currently in Vettius) and we maintain the swap, as it basically did this;
The species Troyus phyllides is already present in the database but has 0 observations. I'll filter all records of P. marcus previsouly identified in the database and identifiy them as Troyus phyllides with the help of some collaborators. Since I did the swap, it is fair that I have to fix these records.
Again, thank youy very much for your explanations and helpful info! I'll work on this right away.
No worries, thanks!
Hey @edgar_crispino this is not correct! The taxon formerly known as Vettius marcus is now called Troyus phyllides: https://www.butterfliesofamerica.com/L/t/Troyus_phyllides_a.htm
This recent paper explains the situation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364312189_Resolving_two_centuries_of_mistaken_identity_Reinterpretation_of_Papilio_marcus_Fabricius_1787_Lepidoptera_Nymphalidae_Hesperiidae
The confusion arises because the specimen representing the name marcus is synonymous with phyllus. The name marcus then became wrongly applied to what is now known as phyllides and this mistake was perpetuated by several authors. See the relevant quote from the above paper:
"Subsequently, Evans (1955: 182) synonymized V. phyllides under Papilio “ marcus ” without providing justification for this taxonomic rearrangement. He apparently examined specimens from southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, and they enabled him to reach a conclusion regarding the identity of V. phyllides , given its type locality of Santa Catarina, Brazil. This status as a junior synonym of Papilio marcus Fabricius, 1787 was followed by subsequent authors (e.g., Bridges 1983, 1994). In particular, Mielke (1989: 138) mentioned the examination of a pair of syntypes housed at SMT and designated the male syntype as a lectotype ( Fig. 1D ), consequently treating the name as a junior subjective synonym of P. marcus Fabricius, 1787 . The information regarding the lectotype and paralectotype of V. phyllides , including associated labels, is also reflected in Nekrutenko (2003: 87). There exists no revisionary work on relevant groups to date, and the status of V. phyllides as a junior subjective synonym of Papilio marcus has been retained in all the literature regarding Hesperiidae classification ( Mielke, 2004, 2005). The name was therefore never treated as valid subsequent to Evans (1955)."
[emphases added]
And here's the relevant quote from the abstract which pretty much sums up everything:
"Second, we designate a lectotype for P. marcus Fabricius, 1787, and recognize it as conspecific with Papilio phyllus Cramer, 1777, a species currently in Vettius Godman, 1901. Therefore, P. marcus is also a junior subjective synonym of V. phyllus (new synonym). Third, aided by genomic sequencing of the lectotype of Vettius phyllides Röber, 1925, we find that this species is not conspecific with V. phyllus and represents instead a valid species of Troyus Warren & Turland, 2012, so that the relative epithet, currently considered as a junior subjective synonym of P. marcus, has to be reappreciated as Troyus phyllides (reinstated status, new combination). Moreover, T. phyllides is apparently the species that has been misidentified as P. marcus since 1832. As a result of this study, the name P. marcus Fabricius nec Cramer falls in synonymy with P. phyllus (currently in Vettius), and the species currently known as T. marcus becomes Troyus phyllides."
[emphases added]
So a lot of observations previously identified as marcus (ie. phyllides), such as this: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62502263 are now wrongly called Vettius phyllus (which is a different species)
Please have a look into this, thanks! This swap might have to be undone