Status of Haloragacidites (al. Triorites) harrisii (Couper) Harris comb. nov. and Haloragacidites trioratus Couper, 1953

Abstract

A discrepancy in the status of two species of Haloragacidites is documented here. When H. trioratus was first described as a new species a drawing of the holotype was given from an unspecified location on the type slide. The species was subsequently included in a type list by a different author who provided coordinates for a holotype from one of three ringed specimens on the type slide, but there is a wide discrepancy between the type description and its figure, and the subsequently selected holotype. It is suggested that the selection of one of three possible specimens was to indicate the holotype's position and not its status for the benefit of anyone examining the slide. We claim that the original holotype is located on a different slide from that cited by the previous authors. Since Triorites harrisii has been excluded from Triorites by an emended generic diagnosis it is here transferred to Haloragicidites as H. harrisii (Couper) Harris comb. nov. Haloragacidites trioratus, which differs noticeably from H. harrisii, is reinstated as a separate species. The holotype of H. harrisii is re-located.