Zhelestes, NESOV, 1985 A

Archibald, J. David & Averianov, Alexander, 2012, Phylogenetic analysis, taxonomic revision, and dental ontogeny of the Cretaceous Zhelestidae (Mammalia: Eutheria), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 164 (2), pp. 361-426 : 391-392

ZHELESTES NESOV, 1985A

Cretahomunculus [nomen nudum]: Nesov & Golovneva, 1983: 131.

Kumsuperus [nomen dubium]: Nesov, 1984: 62.

Sorlestes: Nesov, 1985a: 14 .

Zhelestes: Nesov, 1985a: 16 .

Type species: Zhelestes temirkazyk Nesov, 1985a .

Included species: Type species only.

Diagnosis: As for the type species. Distribution : Uzbekistan; Late Cretaceous (Turonian) .

Comments: Sorlestes budan and Zhelestes temirkazyk were described in the same paper by Nesov (1985a) where the former has a page priority. Kumsuperus avus was established a year earlier ( Nesov, 1984), but it is based on an inadequate specimen ( CCMGE 13/11758), a dentary fragment with extremely worn m1-3 that lack diagnostic features. We consider Kumsuperus avus Nesov, 1984 to be a nomen dubium. By the principle of the first reviser ( ICZN Article 24.2) we choose the name Zhelestes temirkazyk Nesov, 1985a as a senior objective synonym for the name Sorlestes budan Nesov, 1985a , as it is based on a more diagnostic specimen (maxilla with dentition) rather than a dentary fragment with a not particularly diagnostic lower molar. Additionally, the loss of the nominal genus for Zhelestidae would create unnecessary confusion in the systematic literature.