(329–330) Proposals to expand Article 38.5 to cover a name of a subdivision of a genus

Article 38.5 states that the names of a monotypic genus and a species may be validly published simultaneously by provision of a single description (descriptio generico-specifica). Similar cases also exist in the names of a subdivision of a genus and a species, but they are not covered by this rule. While Art. 40.6 allows indication of the type of a species name alone to be sufficient for the name of a monotypic new genus or subdivision of a genus with the simultaneously published name of a species, no similar provision in Art. 38 permits a single description or diagnosis to validate both a monotypic subdivision of a genus and a species. In my opinion, the names of a subdivision of a genus and a species should also be validated by a single description or diagnosis. Therefore, I propose to amend Art. 38.5 and Art. 38.6 as indicated below. My proposals have the same purpose as Prop. 223–225 (in Taxon 65: 417–418. 2016) but offer some improvements in wording. An additional example is also provided.