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Splitting the paraphyletic genus Drosophila while preserving the name Drosophila melanogaster.
Kim van der Linde, Gerhard Bächli, Masanori J. Toda, Wen-Xia Zhang, Toru Katoh, Yao-Guang Hu & Greg S. Spicer (Accepted)
Abstract
Drosophila (Sophophora) melanogaster Meigen, 1830 is undoubtedly one of the most-studied
model organisms, so widely known that it is often referred to by its genus name alone. The genus Drosophila Fallén, 1823, (type species Musca funebris Fabricius, 1787) is the most species-rich genus (approximately
1500 species) in the family Drosophilidae. Both the genus and the subgenus Drosophila are very
heterogeneous, as was already recognised in early studies by researchers such as Sturtevant, Hsu, Malogolowkin
and Throckmorton. Many studies have been carried out in the 15 years since the last family-wide revision by
Grimaldi and combining these studies shows that the genus Drosophila is paraphyletic, as at least
eight other genera are placed within this genus. To resolve this issue, we have split the genus into its major
clades resulting in four large genera, as well as several smaller genera. However, because the name D.
melanogaster is used so extensively that renaming it Sophophora melanogaster is infeasible,
we have asked the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to preserve the name Drosophila
melanogaster by setting aside all current type designations and to designate D. melanogaster the
new type species of the genus Drosophila. This revision of the genus brings the taxonomy of this section
in the Drosophilidae in line with modern taxonomic practises while at the same time enhances our understanding
of the phylogenetic relationships in this important group of species.
Case 3407. Drosophila Fallén, 1823 (Insecta, Diptera): proposed conservation of usage. (2007)
Kim van der Linde, Gerhard Bächli, Masanori J. Toda, Wen-Xia Zhang, Toru Katoh, Yao-Guang Hu & Greg S. Spicer
Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature,
Announcement: 64(2): 77;
Published: 64(4): 238-242.
Reprint: 
,
additional references:
Abstract
The purpose of this application, under Article 70.2 of the Code,
is to conserve the current usage of the widely used name Drosophila Fallén, 1823 (a genus of
flies widely used in biological research, particularly in genetics and
developmental biology) by the designation of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen,
1830 as the type species of Drosophila. Detailed phylogenetic studies show that
the genus Drosophila as currently defined is paraphyletic. Splitting the genus
requires that the subgenus Sophophora Sturtevant, 1939 must be ranked as a
separate genus. The type species of Sophophora is by original designation Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830. Ranking Sophophora as a genus and
changing the name of Drosophila melanogaster to Sophophora melanogaster would
result in major nomenclatural instability since a vast number of publications
refer only to 'Drosophila' when 'Drosophila melanogaster' is actually meant;
the two names are used interchangeably. It is therefore proposed that Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830 is designated as the type species of Drosophila.
Note: The application erroneously indicates Fallén 1832, it should be Fallén 1823.
- March 2006
Poster: "Sophophora melanogaster?" 47th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Houston, Texas, USA. - September 2007
Presentation: "A phylogenetic tree for the genus Drosophila: Large datasets and taxonomic consequences." E&E seminar, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.