Species Before Subspecies: the Names of Mammal Species First Named As Subspecies

The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature provides that if a name first introduced as a species and one first introduced as a subspecies are considered synonyms and both were published simultaneously, the species name has priority (Article 24.1). However, this rule has not been consistently followed in mammals. There are 13 currently recognized mammal species that were originally named as subspecies or varieties, but that have a simultaneously published synonym that was originally proposed as a species. I propose to rename 5 recently recognized species that fall in this group: Microdipodops oregonus to M. californicus; Arvicola italicus to A. destructor; Phyllotis stenops to P. tamborum; Peromyscus totontepecus to P. tehuantepecus; and Peromyscus zamorae to P. xenurus. The remaining species should maintain their current names pending action by the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature. Determining the correct name of mammal species first named as subspecies.