Cancer erythropus

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 : 43

Authorship of Cancer erythropus (now Dromia erythropus ): Edwards, in Catesby, 1771

Catesby (1771b) used two different non-binomial names for a dromiid crab with red chelae: Cancer marinus chelis rubris (p. 37) and Cancer chelis rubris (pl. 37, caption). Edwards (in Catesby 1771b: 1) listed: “37. The red clawed crab. Cancer marinus chelis rubris. [=] Cancer erythropus . Forst. N. Am. Anim. 33”. The reference to “Forst. N. Am. Anim. 33” is to Forster (1771: 33) who listed: “redclawed Cat. II. 37. f. 1”. It is therefore clear that Edwards (in Catesby 1771b: 1) was the first author to establish a binomial Latin name for the crab figured by Catesby (1771b: pl. 37) although it was listed by Forster (1771: 33). Opinions 89 and 259 ( ICZN 1925, 1954a) ruled that the new names in Edwards’ (in Catesby 1771a, b) Catalogue are available names as he was applying consistently binomial names to the taxa figured in Catesby (1771a, b).

A note on the correct citation for the authorship of Cancer erythropus (now Dromia erythropus ) is necessary. Authorship of Dromia erythropus is conventionally attributed to “Edwards, 1771” (e.g. Laughlin et al. 1982: 342; Ng et al. 2008: 33; Viana et al. 2003: 215–217). However, as discussed in Ng (1994), the citation of an author’s name after the scientific name is a bibliographic tool that allows the origin of names to be traced and the relevant literature acquired. If the authorship of Cancer erythropus is attributed to simply “Edwards, 1771”, no publication by this author in 1771 will be found that contains the name Cancer erythropus . Conversely, the correct citation of “Edwards, in Catesby, 1771” makes the original publication (and source) of the name clear.