EUROPEAN FRESH-WATER FISHES

The systematics and nomenclature of the European freshwater fishes hav e been critically reviewed. Using the phylogenetic species concept (PS C), 358 species are recognised in Europe (exclusive of former USSR). F ormer checklists recognised only about 170 to 213 species for the same area; the increase is in part due to differences in species concepts but also to former checklists overlooking most of the diversity docume nted for salmonids and coregonids. The nomenclatural status of the 193 1 names applied to European freshwater fishes since 1758 has been revi ewed. The original descriptions of 1429 (99.4%) of the 1437 nominal sp ecies based on material from Europe (exclusive of USSR) have been exam ined; the original spellings have been checked, type localities are li sted as well as information on primary type specimens when available. The correct names of all species have been established in accordance w ith the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. It is found tha t 47-89 (28-42%) of the names of the 170 to 213 species and subspecies recognised by earlier authors were incorrect (incorrect names, incorr ect generic placement, incorrect spelling). Many names were found to b e very poorly based or with very poorly 'legal' base and in order to s tabilise the nomenclature, lectotypes are designated for 18 nominal sp ecies and neotypes are designated for 18; the type localities of 8 spe cies are restricted, and the original indications of 5 species are res tricted (Table 2). The following species known by previous authors but unnamed or with invalid names are named: Coregonus fatioi, C. arenico lus, C, atterensis, and Salmo aphelios. Despite having being the objec t of research for more than 450 years (double than the fauna of any ot her continent), the systematics and nomenciature of European freshwate r fishes has been found to be in a chaotic state without equivalent el sewhere. The absence of established nomenclatural rules until the midd le of last century is responsible for most of the 'old' nomenclatural problems. Poor practices, poor theoretical concepts, poor writing, abs ence of international communication and nationalism are responsible fo r the poor quality of systematic work in recent European ichthyology a nd ignorance of the rules are responsible for poor taxonomy and unstab le nomenclature. The main cause is that contrary to most other fields of zoology and most other parts of the world, fish systematics and fis h taxonomy has been a playing ground for fisheries biologists and not a research field for trained taxonomists. Poor systematics and poor ta xonomy are directly responsible for the non-identification of the seve re threats to the survival of many species. Twelve of the recognised s pecies are probably extinct: Eudontomyzon sp., Chondrostema scodrense, Coregonus fera, C. hiemalis, C. confusus, C. restrictus, C. gutturosu s, Salmo schiefermuelleri, Salvelinus inframundus, S. profundus, S. sc harffi, and Gasterosteus crenobiontus.