C. Elegans vs. C. Pestai

philtre · Post by **philtre** » 06 Jan 2003, 18:12

Hi all ...

is C. Elegans is different from C. Pestai right? Came across some info where they list

C. Elegans
synonym C. Pestai

and according to m-w.com, synonym could mean " a taxonomic name rejected as being incorrectly applied or incorrect in form"

So in this case, does it mean that C. Pestai was once wrongly identified as C. Elegans?

appreciate your thoughts on this.

thanks,
philtre

Post by **Silurus** » 06 Jan 2003, 19:14

No, this just means that C. pestai is considered the same species as C. elegans (according to Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1980). This will not be particualrly easy to verify, since C. pestai was described from aquarium material without exact locality and the holotype (which was deposited in Munich) was destroyed in World War II.

Heok Hee

Post by **Coryman** » 06 Jan 2003, 19:16

Philtre

They are indeed two distinct species.

C. elegans male,

C. pestai male.

Within this group (So called 'elegans') there a number of species that look similar especially at first glance, I have them all displayed on one page at http://www.corydoras.pwp.blueyonder.co. ... _group.htm

Ian

philtre · Post by **philtre** » 06 Jan 2003, 19:52

Hi Ian,
thanks very much for the clarification. After you did an ID for us, me and my pals were wondering what the synonym meant. hehehe ... and we were getting a little confused. this helps.

Heok Hee,
thanks for the explanation. hmmmm ...which brings me to this question:

could someone please advise what does it mean when a species is listed as a synonym under another ? same family?

thanks!

Post by **Silurus** » 06 Jan 2003, 20:41

When species A and B are said to be synonyms, this means that they are regarded as the same species. Whether the name A or B should be applied to the species depends on which is the older name: if A is the older name, then the correct name to use would be A and vice versa.
There are two kinds of synonymy: subjective and objective. Most of the synonymies encountered are subjective synonymies, because the two species names were described from different specimens collected at different times (and in many cases, different localities). Since scientists use different species concepts (according to individual beliefs), the subjective synonymy is not "fixed" in the sense that one person may consider A and B to be distinct species, while another may consider A and B to be the same species (for which EITHER A OR B as the name is used).
Objective synonymy is more clear cut, since both the names A and B are described from the same specimen(s) collected at the same locality and the same time. In this case, only the older name (either A or B) is applied and the younger name is never used when referring to the species.
If this sounds confusing, I can try to explain further off this forum (and stop boring everyone else).

Heok Hee

philtre · Post by **philtre** » 07 Jan 2003, 06:10

Hi Heok Hee,

thanks very much for the explanation. I think I got it.

I think. heh. ; )

IT was very detailed and enlightening ... heheh ... gonna keep it in my little mental pouch for reference.

cheers
philtre