On the cOrrect name fOr sOme subfamilies Of mustelidae (mammalia, carnivOra)

Mustelids (Mustelidae) exhibit a wide morphological and ecological diversity, ranging from aquatic to semi arboreal and fossorial forms. It is the most diversity family in Carnivora, and this has promoted a great number of taxonomic arrangements for subfamilies, which can range from two to 15 depending on the author. The relatively recent use of molecular data has helped to elucidate the classification of mustelids, and eight subfamilies are currently recognized: Mustelinae, Galictinae, Helictidinae, Martinae, Melinae, Mellivorinae, Taxidiinae and Lutrinae. However, some of these subfamilies have nomenclatural problems, not receiving the oldest available name. The subfamily that includes martens (Martes, Charronia and Pekania), tayra (Eira) and wolverine (Gulo) has received the name of Martinae Wagner, 1841, but the oldest available name is Guloninae Gray, 1825. This problem also occurs for the subfamily that includes the grisons (Galictis), Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon), marbled polecat (Vormela) and striped weasels (Ictonyx and Poecilogale), which are known as Grisoninae Pocock, 1921, but the correct name for this group is Ictonychinae, Pocock, 1921. The subfamily that includes ferret badgers (Melogale) retains the name Helictidinae Gray, 1865, because its validity is not affected when the type-genus of the subfamily becomes a junior synonym of another genus. Furthermore, a list of the extant subfamilies of Mustelidae and their respective synonyms and included genera is provided. Key-Words: Mustelidae; Subfamilies; Guloninae; Ictonychinae; Helictinae.

Since the inclusion of molecular data in the 2000s, new insights challenged the traditional classification arrangement of mustelids (Stone & Cook, 2002;Flynn et al., 2005;Fulton & Strobeck, 2006;Koepfli et al., 2008;Larivière & Jennings, 2009;Yu et al., 2011;Sato et al., 2012).According to these molecular studies, skunks (Spilogale, Mephitis and Conepatus) and stink badgers (Mydaus) form a separate family (Mephitidae), a sister group in relation to the clade formed by the remaining Mustelidae and Procyonidae.Furthermore, the relationships within the remaining Mustelidae were rearranged and eight subfamilies were recognized: Mustelinae, Galictinae, Helictidinae, Martinae, Melinae, Mellivorinae, Taxidiinae, and Lutrinae (Table 1).This taxonomic arrangement is currently the most accepted, also used in "The Handbook of the Mammals of the World, volume 1" (Larivière & Jennings, 2009), a reference mammalian compendium not only for systematics zoologists, but also for ecologists and conservationists, among others.However, there is a problem in this new arrangement concerning the correct nomenclature of some subfamilies, which have often not received the oldest available names.Herein, I will briefly discuss this issue and propose nomenclatural changes based on principles of the ICZN (1999).

Purpose. In accordance with the objects of the Code (…), the Principle of Priority is to be used to promote stability and it is not intended to be used to upset a longaccepted name in its accustomed meaning by the introduction of a name that is its senior synonym or homonym (…), or through an action taken following the discovery of a prior and hitherto unrecognized nomenclatural act (…)".
The oldest available name for Martes-Gulo-Eira clade should be Guloninae, as Sato et al. (2012) correctly used in their article, since Gray created the tribe Gulonina in 1825 to include the wolverine, and it was created before Martina Wagner (1841)

Statement of the Principle of Coordination applied to family-group names. A name established for a taxon at any rank in the family group is deemed to have been simultaneously established for nominal taxa at all other ranks in the family
group; all these taxa have the same type genus, and their names are formed from the stem of the name of the type genus (…) with appropriate change of suffix (…).The name has the same authorship and date at every rank." In this case, the name Gulonina, which rose from tribe to subfamily rank (Guloninae), must remain with the name of its original author, Gray (1825).

Zorillinae, Galictinae or Ictonychinae?
Regarding the clade that currently includes the grisons (Galictis), Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon), marbled polecat (Vormela), striped polecats (Ictonyx) and striped weasel (Poecilogale), the oldest name to designate them would be Zorillinae, which was first used as a tribe by Gray (1865) (as Zorillina) and subsequently raised to subfamily by Gill (1872).However, the type genus Zorilla I. Geoffroy ( 1826) was suppressed by the ICZN committee in 1967 (Opinion 818) ("suppressed under the plenary power for the purposes of the Principle of Priority but not for those of the Principle of Homonymy").According to ICZN Code (1999):

Effect of change of name on nominotypical taxa. If the name in use for a family-group taxon is unavailable or invalid it must be replaced by the name valid under Article 23.3.5; any subordinate taxa containing the type genus of the substitute nominal taxon (and therefore denoted by the valid family-group name, with appropriate suffixes) become nominotypical taxa."
The subsequent valid name for the subfamily would be Ictonychinae Pocock, 1921b, which was published on the same page as Grisoninae, but the former name was referred to before the latter.Furthermore, the type genus of Grisoninae, Grison Oken, 1816, was suppressed by the ICZN Commission in 1956.According to the rule of priority (Article 23), Galictinae Reig, 1956 is considered a junior synonym of Ictonychinae Pocock, 1921b, invalidating the proposed name given by Fulton & Strobeck (2006) and Koepfli et al. (2008).The valid name for this subfamily is thus Ictonychinae Pocock, 1921b, as Sato et al. (2012) also pointed out.