Priority of Carl Linnaeus as the author of the oldest species of Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda): Daphnia pulex (Linnaeus, 1758) and Polyphemus pediculus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

In taxonomy, it is important to maintain chronological order in taxon naming and understanding. Here, I confirm that according to the rules of Zoological Nomenclature, Carl Linnaeus must be regarded as the author of two common cladoceran taxa, Daphnia pulex (Linnaeus, 1758) and Polyphemus pediculus (Linnaeus, 1758). Both were established in the 10th Edition of “Systema Naturae”, the starting point of Zoological Nomenclature. The history of these taxa is described.