Request for conserving the generic name Methylacidiphilum Awala et al. 2023 over Methylacidiphilum Ratnadevi et al. 2023 to resolve the illegitimacy of Methylacidiphilum Awala et al. 2023, Methylacidiphilum caldifontis Awala et al. 2023, Methylacidiphilaceae Awala et al. 2023 and Methylacidiphilales Awala et al. 2023. Request for an Opinion

Abstract

The generic name Methylacidiphilum Awala et al. 2023 contravenes Rule 51b(5) of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) for being a later homonym of Methylacidiphilum Ratnadevi et al. 2023, leading to the illegitimacy of Methylacidiphilum caldifontis Awala et al. 2023, Methylacidiphilaceae Awala et al. 2023 and Methylacidiphilales Awala et al. 2023. Previous taxonomic analyses revealed that the names Methylacidiphilum Awala et al. 2023 and Methylacidiphilum Ratnadevi et al. 2023 happen to be heterotypic synonyms as well, which makes sense since both the names are derived from Candidatus Methylacidiphilum. And therefore, to resolve the illegitimacy and prevent nomenclatural instability, we refrain from proposing replacement names and here call for action by the Judicial Commission to conserve Methylacidiphilum Awala et al. 2023 over Methylacidiphilum Ratnadevi et al. 2023 according to Rule 23a Note 4(1) and Rule 56b of the ICNP. The conservation of the generic name Methylacidiphilum Awala et al. 2023 will retain the usage of the family name Methylacidiphilaceae and the order name Methylacidiphilales in prokaryotic taxonomy.

Keywords: Methylacidiphilaceae; Methylacidiphilales; Methylacidiphilum; Methylacidiphilum caldifontis; conserved name; heterotypic synonym; homonym.