[Taxacom] Latin grammar-related question

[John Landolt]

Hello again,

Not long ago I asked for advice about Latin grammar in naming a new  
species of dictyostelid slime mold in the genus Dictyostelium.   
Thanks again to all who responded with the proper spelling of a  
specific epithet to go with the neuter noun, Dictyostleium, i.e. D.  
boreale.

There are a few existing species names in the same genus that may  
have been "misspelled" in that they have endings like "-sis", "-alis"  
or "-aris".

In the dictyostelid genus Polysphondylium, there is one species on  
the books named P. tikalensis.  Would this be grammatically correct?

If there is a grammatical "mistake" in such names and the names are  
already published, should such sleeping dogs be allowed to lie  
peacefully or is there a serious reason for someone to make formal  
corrections?

I suspect there may be a range of opinion on this and I'm curious.

Thanks,

John

John Landolt
Research Professor of Biology, Emeritus
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV
http://shyretiring.blogspot.com/