seaturtle.org : MTN : ARCHIVES : Sign In

Marine Turtle Newsletter 67:2, © 1994

Kempii is the Correct Spelling for Kemp's Ridley Turtle

R. I. Crombie and G. R. Zug
Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. 20560 USA

Witzell (1994) correctly noted that some confusion persists over the use of double or single "i" in the spelling of the specific name of the Kemp's ridley turtle. He also correctly noted that the 1985 Code of Zoological Nomenclature Article 31a/ii "mandates that patronymic species group name follow the rules of Latin grammar; i.e., it is improper to designate a new species in honor of an individual by adding two i's to their name." The italization is ours. Indeed, it is incorrect to form a new name with a double "i" unless the name is Latinized and the stem of the name ends with an "i" or the person's name ends in an "i". However, he failed to note Article 31a/iii which states that "The original spelling of a species-group name ... is to be preserved [Art. 32c,d] unless it is incorrect." The Atlantic ridley turtle was described as Thalassochelys (Colpochelys) kempii by Garman in 1880. The use of the double "ii" was correctly applied then and remains correct now.

Witzell, W. N. 1994. kempii vs. kempi: the correct spelling for the Kemp's ridley. Marine Turtle Newsletter 66:5.