Cancer arenarius Catesby, 1771

Low, Martyn E. Y. & Ng, Peter K. L., 2012, The identities of Cancer arenarius Toreen, in Osbeck, 1765, Cancer arenarius Zimmermann, in Cavolini, 1792, Cancer (Mantis) arenarius Herbst, 1793, and Cancer (Gammarellus) arenarius Herbst, 1793, and other names associated with the genus Ocypode Weber, 1795 (Crustacea: Amphipoda, Decapoda,, Zootaxa 3398, pp. 40-57 : 41-42

Cancer arenarius Catesby, 1771 , and the valid binomial name for the “Sand Crab”: Opinions 13, 89, 260–262 (ICZN 1910; 1925; 1954a–d)

The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature was asked to determine the scientific name of the “Sand Crab”, a species of Brachyura that inhabits the sandy shores of North America’s Atlantic coast ( ICZN 1910b: 22, 23). Opinion 13 ( ICZN 1910b) was issued with the following rulings: 1) the name Cancer arenarius Catesby, 1771 , was ruled as unavailable; 2) the name Cancer quadratus Fabricius, 1787 , was found to preoccupied by Cancer quadratus Meuschen, 1778 , and Cancer quadratus Meuschen , in Gronovius, 1781; 3) the name Cancer albicans Bosc, 1801 , was found to be the oldest available name for the sand crab. The name Ocypode albicans Bosc, 1801 , was then ruled to be the valid name for this taxon.

In preparing to reissue Opinion 13 ( ICZN 1910b), it was found “[t]he premises on which the […] the ‘summary’ of this Opinion is based are incorrect and in consequence, the conclusion indicated […] is also incorrect. […] It is proposed, therefore, to re-submit this case to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature as soon as possible” ( ICZN 1944: 209). These issues were resolved by the rulings of Opinions 260 and 261 ( ICZN 1954b, c). Opinion 13 ( ICZN 1910b) was cancelled and was replaced by Opinion 262 ( ICZN 1954d). The rulings of Opinions 260–262 ( ICZN 1954d) can be summarised as follows: 1) the name Cancer arenarius Catesby, 1771 , remains unavailable; 2) Cancer quadratus Meuschen, 1778 , and Cancer quadratus Meuschen , in Gronovius, 1781, are also not available names; 3) Cancer quadratus Fabricius, 1787 , was deemed the oldest available name for the American “Sand Crab” and a senior synonym of Cancer albicans Bosc, 1801 . The rulings of Opinions 13, 260–262 (ICZN 1910; 1954b–d) are summarised in Table 2.

a Oldest available (and valid) name for the “Sand Crab”; b This name does not have any bearing on the nomenclature of the

“Sand Crab” but its availability and authorship are discussed in the text.

In Opinion 262 ( ICZN 1954d), it was also discussed that even in the hypothetical scenario that Cancer arenarius Catesby, 1771 , was available, it would still be preoccupied by the previously overlooked Cancer arenarius Toreen , in Osbeck, 1765. Although the identity of Cancer arenarius Toreen , in Osbeck, 1765, was not determined, it was believed to be distinct from the American “Sand Crab” ( Cancer arenarius Catesby, 1771 ) as it was found in “ Queda in the Straits of Malacca ”. The “Sand Crab” of Catesby (1771) on the other hand, was found on “the Atlantic shores of the American Continent” ( ICZN 1954d: 304). While it is possible that Toreen (in Osbeck 1765) was aware of the “ Cancer arenarius ” of Catesby (1734: 35, pl. 35), Toreen (in Osbeck 1765) did not cite Catesby (1734). As such, Cancer arenarius Toreen , in Osbeck, 1765, must be treated as a distinct taxon. The identity of Cancer arenarius Toreen , in Osbeck, 1765, is discussed below.

Interestingly, very early on, Say (1817: 69) had treated Catesby’s name as available and transferred the species to the genus Ocypode Weber, 1795 . Say’s (1817) use of the name “ Ocypode arenaria ”, however, is clearly following Catesby (1771), and does not change the current status of the name as set out in Opinion 262 ( ICZN 1954d). The name Cancer arenarius Catesby, 1771 , remains unavailable.