Merriamites, a new name for the bellerophontid gastropod genus Merriamella Blodgett and Johnson

BLODGETT AND JOHNSON (1992) proposed the name Merriamella for a new genus of bellerophontid gastropod. The type species of this genus is Merriamella eurekae Blodgett and Johnson, 1992, from Eifelian (early Middle Devonian) age strata of the Denay Limestone of central Nevada. Subsequently, it has come to our attention that the name Merriamella has been used twice before as a genus or subgenus level taxonomic name. The name Merriamella was first proposed by Jordan (1907, p. 131) for a fish (type species, Merriamella doryssa Jordan, 1907) from the Miocene of Nevada. Later, Merriamella was proposed by EtayoSerna (1979) as a subgenus of the gastropod genus Turritella, the type species being Turritella (Merriamella) rinconi EtayoSerna, 1979, from the Paleocene of Colombia. We therefore propose the name Merriamites n. gen. in replacement for Merriamella Blodgett and Johnson, 1992. LODGET AND JOHNSO (1992) proposed the name Merriamella or a new genus of bellerophontid gastropod. The type species this genus i Merriamella eurekae Blodg tt and Johnson, 92, from Eifelian (early Middle Devonian) age strat of the enay Limestone of central Nevada. Subsequently, it has come