Hi Martina, I agree with Patricia Mather and the others that Tunicata is the correct term for the fascinating group of marine invertebrates that we all know and love. I even looked up Lamarck's 1816 treatise, which is a good read for those interested that can read French. I do not know why "urochordate" gained such widespread usage, but it is used mostly in England and the U.S. Gretchen Lambert has suggested that the term "urochordata" never really caught on in Europe or Japan. A recent pubmed search with tunicata and urochordata got urochordata: 1763 references tunicata: 1777 references The term "protochordate" is more problematic, I think. I was asked twice this year to write reviews on "protochordates", so I have had some time to think about it. In reviewing gastrulation, I reviewed ascidian and lancelet gastrulation (Swalla, 2004). However, for the Canadian Journal of Zoology Protochordate issue, I was asked to include hemichordates in my review of Protochordate phylogeny. Since hemichordates are clearly sister group to echinoderms (not chordates), I found this problematic, but went ahead and reviewed all of the deuterostomes. I also went back and read Barrington's delightful book "The Biology of Hemichordata and Protochordata". Barrington considered tunicates and lancelets "Protochordates" and Hemichordates to be a separate phylum. However, he suggests that graptolites (fossil pterobranch hemichordates) and pogonophora (deep sea polychaetes) may also be protochordates. Does anyone know an earlier reference to "protochordates?" I don't like the term because it suggests that present day tunicates and lancelets are similar to their long ago ancestors, even though we know that they are highly specialized and evolved extant marine animals. It seems to be back in usage again, though. My favorite quote from Barrington's book is "It will be apparent that the protochordates are more successful than most animals in concealing their pedigree and their interrelationships”. I can certainly agree with him there! Happy holidays! Billie J. Swalla Barrington, E.J.W. 1965. The Biology of Hemichordata and Protochordata. (Oliver & Boyd), Edinburgh & London, U.K. Lamarck, J.B. 1816. Histoire Naturelle des Animaux sans Vertebrates. Tome III. Tuniciers. Déterville, Paris pp 80-130 Swalla, B. J. 2004. “Protochordate Gastrulation: Lancelets and Ascidians.” In: Gastrulation; Claudio Stern, ed. Cold Spring Harbor Press. pp 139-149. On Dec 17, 2004, at 4:18 PM, martina grey wrote: > Dear Tunicatists > > The word 'urochordate' has the advantage that it reinforces the notion > that we are dealing with a type of chordate, not with just another > boring minor inverebrate group. The same applies to 'protochordate', > which is increasingly popular. People think that their grant > applications gain relevance if they are about chordates. Are they > right? Am I being cynical? > Does 'protchordate' have any taxonomic validity? > > Martina > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tito Lotufo" <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Urochordate Conference > Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 18:59:31 -0300 > >> >> Dear Dr. Goodbody and other list members, >> Although I agree with Dr. Mather and use Tunicata instead of >> Urochordata, >> the ICZN rules of precedence (chapter 6, Article 23.1) apply only to >> the >> level of family and lower categories (genus and species), as >> previously >> pointed out by another list member some time ago. >> Nevertheless, we all must do our best in order to keep the uniformity >> of the >> zoological nomenclature and try to use the same names regardless its >> category. This is specially important for our students, as different >> names >> for the same thing are always a source of confusion and >> misunderstanding. >> Regards, >> Tito >> _____________________________________ >> Tito M. C. Lotufo >> Universidade Federal do Ceará >> Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca >> Tel: (85) 288-9726 FAX: (85) 287-6940 >> E-mail: [log in to unmask] >> >> >> on 17.12.04 18:00, Prof. Ivan Goodbody at [log in to unmask] >> wrote: >> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: Prof. Ivan Goodbody >>> To: [log in to unmask] >>> Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 3:43 PM >>> Subject: Urochordate Conference >>> >>> >>> Dear List members, >>> >>> On 5th June 2003 Patricia Mather posted a message to The List >>> reminding us all >>> that the Class of animals in which we are interested is Tunicata and >>> not >>> Urochordata. Patricia's message was clear and authoritative. The >>> message >>> identifies the history and development of the taxonomic nomenclature >>> and >>> why,in accordance with the Rules, Tunicata Lamarck 1816 must take >>> precedence >>> over Urochordata Balfour 1881. A few of us may have felt scolded or >>> even >>> humbled by Patricia's message and at least one University found it >>> necessary >>> to rewrite their lab manuals for students. Some textbooks still >>> require >>> revision. >>> In the light of this it comes as a surprise to learn that yet another >>> Urochordate conference is planned to take place in Santa Barbara >>> next July. >>> Happily the message about the Conference was addressed to >>> Tunicatists and not >>> to Urochordatists and maybe the organisers could be persuaded to >>> rename the >>> Conference as a Tunicate Conference. The continued use of the >>> name Urochordata >>> instead of Tunicata sends the wrong message to students and >>> younger colleagues >>> who should be encouraged to respect The International Rules of >>> Zoological >>> Nomenclature. >>> Irrespective of the title of the Conference I cannot be in Santa >>> Barbara in >>> July but for those who attend to discuss Tunicate biology I wish you >>> fruitful >>> exchanges. >>> >>> IVAN GOODBODY >>> Professor Emeritus of Zoology >>> University of the West Indies > Happy holidays to you and your loved ones! Dr. Billie J. Swalla Associate Professor Box 351800 24 Kincaid Hall Biology Department University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-1800 Phone: 206-616-9367 Fax: 206-616-2011 E-mail: [log in to unmask] http://faculty.washington.edu/bjswalla/ Check out our 2002 summer course at FHL "Comparative Embryology of Invertebrates" http://courses.washington.edu/emb2002/ Check out our 2001 summer course at FHL "Evolution and Development of the Metazoans" http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/people/khalanych/evodevo2001/index.html