Taxonomy of Finfish

1.2.6 Authorship

The author (authors) of a scientific name is (are) the person (persons) who erect the species of the first type. The names of author (authors), when cited follows the scientific names of the species thus erected (e.g. Scomberoides commersonnianus Lacepede, 1802, Sardinella longiceps Valenciennes). Citing the original author (authors) not only give credit to the individual (individuals) but also fixes responsibility for the name and aids in locating the original description. If a species group taxon was described in a given genus and latter transferred to another genus, the name of the author (authors) of the species group name should be enclosed in parentheses [e.g. Arius sona (Hamilton, 1822) = Tachysurus sona (Hamilton, 1822); Amblygaster sirm (Walbaum, 1792) = Sardinella sirm (Walbaum, 1792)].

If it is desried to cite the names of both the original author of a species group name and of the reviser who transferred it to another genus, the names of the reviser should follow in parentheses that enclose the original author (e.g. Scomberoides tala (Cuvier) Smith Vaniz (1973).