Protanilla bicolor

Identification
Key to Protanilla species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  bicolor. Protanilla bicolor Xu, 2002a: 119, figs. 21-23 (w.) CHINA. See also: Xu & Zhang, 2002: 140.

Note: In the catalogue of Bolton et al. (2007) the names Leptanilla yunnanensis, Protanilla bicolor and Protanilla concolor are attributed to Xu & Zhang, 2002, who provided a key to differentiate the leptanilline species found in China, and not to Xu, 2002, who formally described the three species. This stems from the publication dates available for the two papers, with the Xu & Zhang paper predating the formal descriptions, according to imprint. However, the latest edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999) provides regulations (Articles 16.1, 16.4) that do not allow considering the Xu & Zhang treatment as a publication of valid new names. According to article 16.4, each name published after 1999 must be accompanied by explicit type designation along with information on the place of deposition. Additionally, article 16.1 states that each new name published after 1999 must be explicitly indicated as intentionally new. The Xu & Zhang paper of 2002 does not meet the above mentioned requirements, and therefore the correct authorship of Leptanilla yunnanensis, Protanilla bicolor and P. concolor is Xu, 2002. (Borowiec et al., 2011)