Blainville or de Blainville?

December 14, 2001
From: Cindy Paden

Hi,
We are reviewing a manuscript that mentions Bursatella leachii Blainville, 1817. I notice that on your website it is classified as Bursatella leachii de Blainville, 1817. Is either one acceptable? Or is one more commonly used? Thanks for your input.
Cindy Paden
Editorial Assistant
Journal of Natural Products

Cindy.Paden@orst.edu

Paden, C., 2001 (Dec 14) Blainville or de Blainville?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5823

Dear Cindy,
An interesting question. Unfortunately there is no consistency in the use or misuse of these prefixes. If you are Irish (O'Donoghue etc) or Scottish (McFarland, MacNae etc) there is no problem, but if you are French (de Blainville) or Dutch (van der Spoel) then all sorts of indignities are perpetrated by Anglo-Saxon editors and publishers. The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature recommends (p125) that surnames of authors of scientific names should not be abbreviated. In my opinion the 'de' is an integral part of de Blainville's surname and should be included.

I would be interested in any other comments on this topic
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Dec 14). Comment on Blainville or de Blainville? by Cindy Paden. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5823

Factsheet

Names and nomenclatural problems

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