HOLOTYPE [♂] [Japan: Honshu, Kanagawa,] Yokohama, 25.vi.1896 [NHMUK].
In the NHMUK, there is apparently only one specimen with the locality and date given by Rothschild & Jordan (1903). However, not all of the type series has been found in the NHMUK (only 1♂1♀, 7.viii.1896 and 1♀ 2.viii.1892), and so it is not known for certain whether the specimen is the holotype. The specimen was, however, illustrated as "holotype" by d'Abrera, [1987], Sphingidae Mundi: 133, and so this would be a valid lectotype designation in the event of a second specimen with the same label data as the putative holotype being found.
Taxonomic Notes:
With regard to Acosmeryx castanea, Zolotuhin & Yevdoshenko (2019) (STI 22079) stated “Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate one from Japan and the continental ssp. kuangtungensis Mell, 1922, from Korea, China and Vietnam. Taiwanese (genetic) subspecies is still undescribed.” In fact, no subspecies are currently recognized in Acosmeryx castanea as kuangtungensis was synonymized with the nominotypical subspecies by Clark (1928) (STI 17252). Furthermore, although DNA barcode samples from Japan, Taiwan and mainland China do form three clusters on a neighbor-joining tree, the maximum divergence between any two samples is only 0.926% (mean distance = 0.48%) and all samples comprise a single BIN, AAC1575. Consequently, it is not considered that DNA barcodes support any formal subdivision of the species, particularly when based solely on a naïve interpretation of divergence values. As Zolotuhin & Yevdoshenko (2019) (STI 22079) did not formally reinstate kuangtungensis, their suggestion is simply ignored here.
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical):
Ed Baker,
Katherine Bouton
Alice Heaton
Dimitris Koureas,
Laurence Livermore,
Dave Roberts,
Simon Rycroft,
Ben Scott,
Vince Smith
