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Type: Correspondence
Published: 2019-11-27
Page range: 63–66
Abstract views: 31
PDF downloaded: 1

Trace fossils mistaken as plants: the nomenclatural status of Tetraphyllum (Gesneriaceae)

Geomuseum der WWU, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Corrensstraße 24, D-48149 Münster, Germany
Eudicots Cretaceous Germany ichnology palaeobotany

Abstract

Tetraphyllum Griff. ex C.B.Clarke (Gesneriaceae) has erroneously been replaced by Tetraphylloides Doweld, as he considered Tetraphyllum Hosius & von der Marck an angiosperm and thus its earlier homonym. Reinvestigation of the holotype of the type species Tetraphyllum dubium Hosius & von der Marck, however, shows this to be a trace fossil. The latter is re-validated as an ichnotaxon herein. Since botanical and zoological names do not compete for homonymy or synonymy, Tetraphylloides Doweld is a younger synonym of Tetraphyllum C.B.Clarke. In due course, Tetraphylloidinae Doweld is a younger synonym of Tetraphyllinae A. Weber & Mich. Möller; Tetraphylloides Doweld and Tetraphylloidinae Doweld are illegitimate names.