Gabon Talapoin

Taxobox
name = Gabon TalapoinMSW3 Groves|pages=165-166]
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Primates
familia = Cercopithecidae
genus = "Miopithecus"
species = "M. ogouensis"
binomial = "Miopithecus ogouensis"
binomial_authority = Kingdon, 1997
synonyms =

The Gabon Talapoin ("Miopithecus ogouensis"), also known as the Northern Talapoin,cite book |author=Kingdon, J. |year=1997 |title=The Kingdon Guide to African Mammals |pages=55-56|publisher=Academic Press Limited, London |isbn=0-12-408355-2] is a small species of African monkey in the Cercopithecidae family. It is found in riparian habitats in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Central African Republic, western Republic of the Congo and far northern Angola (Cabinda). [cite journal |author=Maisels, F., Ambahe, R., Ambassa, E., & Fotso, R. |year=2006 |title=New Northwestern Range Limit of the Northern Talapoin, Mbam et Djerem National Park, Cameroon |journal=Primate Conservation |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=89–91 |url=http://www.primate-sg.org/PDF/PC21.talapoin.north.pdf |format=pdf |doi=10.1896/0898-6207.21.1.89] Unlike the related Angolan Talapoin, the Gabon Talapoin has flesh-coloured (not blackish) ears and facial skin.

Taxonomy

While better known than the Angolan Talapoin, and recognized as distinct as far back as 1969, [cite journal |author=Barros Machado, A. de. |year=1969 |title=Mamíferos de Angola ainda não citados ou pouco conhecidos |journal=Publicações culturais da Companhia de Diamantes de Angola |volume=46 |pages=93–232] the Gabon Talapoin remained un-named until 1997. Kingdon pointed out that the presently used binomial, where the specific name is a reference to the Ogoue, is a "nomen nudum":

: "A nomen nudum, 'Miopithecus ogouensis' is used here [in Kingdon's book] in anticipation of a formal description."

However, it can be argued than his description is valid per ICZN rules, [cite book |author=International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature |editor= Ride, W. D. L., Cogger, H.G., Dupuis, C., Kraus, O., Minelli, A., Thompson, F. C. & Tubbs, P. K. |url=http://www.iczn.org/iczn/index.jsp |title=International Code of Zoological Nomenclature |edition=4th edition |publisher=The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature |year=1999 |isbn=0 85301 006 4] as he provided an illustration (possibly a valid type), a description, and specifically said the name was intended for this new species.

References