However, the name Ichthyosaura had already been introduced in 1801 by Sonnini de Manoncourt and Latreille for "Proteus tritonius", the larva of the alpine newt.[11]:310 It therefore has priority over Mesotriton and is now the valid genus name.[12][13]:9–10 "Ichthyosaura", Greek for "fish lizard", refers to a nymph-like creature in classical mythology.[12]