Reply to Clare and Høeg 2008. Balanus amphitrite or Amphibalanus amphitrite? A note on barnacle nomenclature.
The scientific names of living organisms can and do sometimes change. Such changes generally reflect advances in knowledge of the relationships of species and/or higher taxa. The new name, Amphibalanus amphitrite (subfamily Amphibalaninae), for a well-known fouling barnacle previously known as Balanus amphitrite (subfamily Balaninae), was proposed in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and is now widely accepted. Clare and Høeg (2008) criticise this change but offer no scientifically valid reason to return to the earlier nomenclature of this or any other well-known species of barnacle.
Carlton
James T
JT
Maritime Studies Program, Williams College-Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut, USA. james.t.carlton@williams.edu
Newman
William A
WA
D000818:Animals; D013045:Species Specificity; D001468:Thoracica / Q000145:classification*