Starostinia, a new generic replacement name for Ironella Starostina & Krasnov, 1970 (Anthozoa: Scleractinia: Rhipidogyridae) non Cobb, 1920 (Nematoda: Ironidae).

The fossil genus Ironella Starostina & Krasnov (type species I. giseldonensis by original designation) was established (in Krasnov & Starostina 1970: 79) for distinctive scleractinian corals from Northern Caucasus of Russia (Northern Ossetia). However, Ironella Cobb (1920: 277), a living nematode (Adenophorea: Enoplida: Ironidae), preceded the fossil coral name, which becomes a preoccupied later homonym. The nematod Ironella is well recognized in modern zoology (Nematoda—LSID urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:227324), and in this connection a new generic designation is necessary for the later homonymic fossil scleractinian genus. To resolve homonymy, in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Starostinia gen. nov. (type species Ironella giseldonensis Starostina & Krasnov, 1970) is here proposed as a replacement genus name for Ironella Starostina & Krasnov non Cobb. The genus is named in honor of Russian palaeontologist E. A. Starostina.