Umbraculum

Abstract: Further review of the literature reveals that type designations earlier than, or different from, those proposed by Valdes (2001) are available for Umbraculum Schumacher, 1817, and three of its synonyms: Umbrella Lamarck, 1819, Castroplax Blainville, 1819, and Ombrella Ferussac, 1822. The type species of Umbraculum is U. chinense and the specific name should be attributed to Lamarck, 1801 (who called it Umbella chinensis). This species is a junior synonym of Patella umbraculum [Lightfoot, 1786], a name introduced in an anonymous work. The neuter gender of Umbraculum must be reflected in the names of attributed species, Rafinesque's descriptions of his genera Tylodina and Oxynoe are reproduced from his 1814 work. In the interests of nomenclatural stability, it is recommended that Umbraculoiedea be accorded the status of nomen protectum (in favour of Tylodinoidea) for the monophyletic higher taxon (with the rank of superfamily in a Linnaean hierarchy) encompassing the families Umbraculidae and Tylodinidae.