I often see a name of the type "Genus species (non Somebody)". For example, "Synodontis zambezensis (non Peters)". What does the "non" mean in these instances?
Thanks,
Dinyar
"non" Somebody
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Dinyar
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Silurus
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These things normally pop up in synonymy lists and the best way to explain this is to use an example.
In the synonymy of <i>Mystus castaneus</i>, I listed <i>Mystus micracanthus</i> (non Bleeker, 1846) as a synonym. What this means is that the fish identified (and listed) as <i>M. micracanthus</i> by authors (mentioned in synonymy) is not the same species as originally described by Bleeker in 1846.
To use your example, this means that whoever used the name <i>Synodontis zambezensis</i> is using it on a species that is not conspecific with the species as originally described by Peters (i.e. the true <i>S. zambezensis</i>).
In the synonymy of <i>Mystus castaneus</i>, I listed <i>Mystus micracanthus</i> (non Bleeker, 1846) as a synonym. What this means is that the fish identified (and listed) as <i>M. micracanthus</i> by authors (mentioned in synonymy) is not the same species as originally described by Bleeker in 1846.
To use your example, this means that whoever used the name <i>Synodontis zambezensis</i> is using it on a species that is not conspecific with the species as originally described by Peters (i.e. the true <i>S. zambezensis</i>).
