Phrynus poinari

Remarks. This second amber Phrynus species was initially named Phrynus mexicana Poinar & Brown, 2004, and comes from the probably slightly older (Riquelme et al. 2024) Chiapas amber of Mexico. As noted by Dunlop et al. (2015), it should have been named ‘ mexicanus ’ which renders it a junior primary homonym of a Recent species Phrynus (now Paraphrynus) mexicanus Bilimek, 1867. An appeal by Dunlop et al. (2015) to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to conserve Ph. mexicanus Poinar & Brown, 2004, on the grounds of Bilimek’s species having been transferred to another genus was unsuccessful (Opinion 2453). The commission’s ruling suggested that the simplest solution would be a replacement name for the amber fossil. In this context, we take the opportunity to rename the Chiapas whip spider Phrynus poinari nom. nov. in recognition of George Poinar who initially described the species.

Etymology. The new species-group name is proposed in honour of Prof. George O. Poinar jr. for his extensive contributions towards the study of amber inclusions; especially in the Neotropics.

Type series. Holotype in the Poinar amber collection (Accession no. A- 10 - 264), maintained at Oregon State University, USA. Chiapas amber, Mexico. Miocene: Aquitanian.