Obovaria Rafinesque, 1819 (Mollusca, Bivalvia): proposed conservation of usage by designation of Unio retusa Lamarck, 1819 as the type species of Obovaria

The purpose of this application, under Article 70.2 of the Code, is to conserve the current usage of the widely used name Obovaria Rafinesque, 1819 (freshwater bivalve from the eastern United States) by the designation of Unio retusa Lamarck, 1819 as the type species of Obovaria. The type species of Obovaria is at present Obovaria obovalis Rafinesque, 1820, which is an unused senior subjective synonym of Unio ebenus Lea, 1831 (currently Fusconaia ebena). The designation of Obovaria obovalis as the type species by Herrmannsen (1847) has never been adopted, and in current usage Unio retusa Lamarck, 1819 has universally been accepted as the type species of Obovaria. It is proposed that Obovaria obovalis Rafinesque, 1820 be suppressed.