Glossary of Zoological nomenclature

aberration

a term which, if used to denote a number of individuals within a species, unequivocally signifies infrasubspecific rank.

abbreviation

a shortened form of a word or title. In zoological works genus-group names cited in binomial names of species are often abbreviated to one or two letters, which should always be followed by a full stop, and not used on the first mention of a name; similarly for specific names cited in trinomial names of subspecies.

act, nomenclatural

a published act which affects the nomenclatural status of a scientific name or the typification of a nominal taxon; available nomenclatural act – one that is published in an available work; invalid – any nomenclatural act which is not valid under the provisions of the Code; unavailable – one published in an unavailable work; valid – one that is accepted under the provisions of the Code ie the earliest available act not contravening any provision of the Code.

adopt

to use an unavailable name as the valid name of a taxon in a way which establishes it as a new name with its own authorship and date

affinis, afin.

affinity, relationship, sometimes misleadingly employed as a synonym for phenetic similarity. (= akin to).

aggregate

a group of species, other than a subgenus, within a genus; or a group of subspecies within a species. An aggregate may be denoted by a group name interpolated in parentheses.

alii, aliorum, al.

others, of others.

allotype

paratype of the opposite sex to the holotype; term not regulated by
the Code.

ambiguous name

see Nomen ambiguum.

animal

for the purposes of the Code includes Metazoa and protistan taxa whenever they are or have been treated as animals for nomenclatural purposes.

anonymous

– of a work: one that does not state the name(s) of the author(s)

– of a name or nomenclatural act: one of which the authorship cannot be determined from the work itself

– of an author: one whose identity cannot be determined from the work itself

application to the commission

any zoologist may submit nomenclatural problems to the Commission. These are published in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature.

approved name

one given approval by the Commission for use in nomenclature.

apud

with, in the work of.

articles

the mandatory provisions of the Code.

artificial classification

classification based on convenient or conspicuous diagnostic characters without attention to characters indicating relationship; often a classification based on a single arbitrarily chosen character, rather than an evaluation of the totality of characters.

as such

being strictly what has been cited e.g. ‘a photograph as such’ is an illustration on light-sensitive paper, not one printed in a work.

auctorum, auct., auctt.

of authors, often given to indicate that a name is used in the sense of a number of ubsequent authors and not in its (different) sense as established by the original author.

auctorum non, auct. non

not of authors.

author

the person(s) to whom a work, a scientific name, or a nomenclatural act is attributed.

author citation

the name of the authority for a taxon name, when cited, should follow the taxon name without any intervening marks or punctuation. Its citation is optional and may or may not be followed immediately by the year. Examples:-

A…. Smith 1970

Smith was the first person to validly publish the name A…., which he did in 1970.

A…. Smith in Jones 1970

Smith was the first person to validly publish the name A…., which he did within a publication by Jones in 1970.

A…. Smith 1970 ex Jones 1942

Smith was the first person to validly publish the name A…. in 1970, but which had formerly been used by Jones in 1942, but which he had never validly published.

A…. b…. (Smith) 1970 or A…. b…. (Smith 1970)

Smith was the first person to validly publish the species name b…. in 1970, but which at the time he put in combination with another genus name.

A…. c…. (Smith) Jones

Smith was the first person to validly publish the species name c…., but which at that time he put in combination with another genus name. Jones is responsible for the transfer of the species to genus A…..

A…. b…. [Smith]

The name was originally published anonymously but from external information the author is known to be Smith.

A…. Smith [1970]

Date of publication established solely from external evidence e.g. publisher’s correspondence.

A…. Smith 1970 non Jones 1860 nec Brown 1967

The genus referred to is specifically that described by Smith 1970 and not those homonymous genera described by Jones 1860 or Brown 1967.

A…. b…. Smith 1970 sensu Jones 1977 A…. b…. Smith : Jones A…. b…. : Jones

These all mean that A…. b…. was originally published by Smith, but that this refers specifically to a subsequent, more restricted usage of the name i.e. as used by Jones (: may sometimes be given as ;).

A…. b…. auct. non Smith 1970 A…. b…. sensu auct. non Smith 1970

These refer to instances of the use of A…. b…. by all authors for a taxon which is other than that as published by Smith 1970.

A…. b…. Smith, partim Jones A…. b…. Smith, emend. Jones

These both mean Smith originally published A…. b…., but later Jones further subdivided the species so that its diagnosis was more limited than that originally published by Smith. See also Emended diagnosis.

authority

the name of the author of a taxonomic name, cited after the name. See also: Authorship, Author citation.

authorship

the author of a taxonomic name is the person who alone is responsible for both the name and for the conditions which make it available i.e. the diagnosis etc. See also: Author, Author citation.

available name

any name which conforms to all mandatory provisions of the Code. There are general requirements of publication and date, language, name formation etc. An available name is not necessarily a valid name, as an available name may be in synonymy. Conversely a valid name must always be an available one. Available names include nomen inviolatum, – conservandum, – perfectum, – vanum, – correctum, – substitutum, – imperfectum
(all).

binomen or binomial name

the combination of two names, the first being a generic name and the second a specific name, that together constitute the scientific name of a species; any interpolated names are not counted as components of a binomen.

binomial nomenclature

the system of nomenclature in which a species, but no taxon or any other rank, is denoted by a combination of two names

binomial nomenclature, principle of

see Principle of binomial nomenclature.

bulletin of zoological nomenclature

the official periodical of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.

caste

in social insects, a group of individuals, belonging to a particular species or subspecies, differing in form from other groups of individuals within the same species od subspecies (e.g. in bees – workers, drones, queens).

change, mandatory

a change in spelling of a name required by the Code.

character

any attribute of organisms used for recognizing, differentiating or classifying taxa.

cheirnym

see Manuscript name.

citatus, – a, – um, cit.

cited.

cladistic classification

classification based on ‘recency of common descent’, i.e. categories depend on the position of the branching points on the inferred phylogenetic tree.

classification

the ordering of organisms into groups on the basis of their relationships.

code

International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. An Authoritative document containing a system of rules and recommendations to be followed in giving a scientific name to an animal or animal group. Adopted by the International Congresses of Zoology (more recently the International Union of Biological Sciences)and Administered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. The most recent version of the Code is the Fourth Edition published in September 1999 and taking effect on January 1st 2000.

collective group

an assemblage of species, or stages of organisms (e.g. eggs or larvae), that cannot be allocated with confidence to nominal genera. Names proposed or used for collective groups are treated as genus-group names but special provisions apply to them [Article 42.2.1].

collective-group name

– a name established expressly for a collective group

– a name established for a nominal genus or subgenus and later used for a collective group

collection

an assemblage of specimens compiled and maintained for purposes of study and/or display.

combinatio novum, comb.nov.

new combination – a combination validly published for the first time.

combination

the name of a species or subspecies consisting of the name of the genus followed by the specific or specific plus subspecific names.

commission

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). The duties and operation of the Commission are regulated by the Code, and the powers and duties of the Commission are authorized by the International Zoological Congresses.

common name

see Vernacular name.

compound name

one that is formed by the union of two or more basic components, excluding prefixes and suffixes. e.g. striatoradiatus, novaeguineae, fritzmuelleri, c-album.

conditional

– of the proposal of a name or a type fixation: one made with stated reservations

– of the inclusion of a taxon in another taxon at a higher rank: made with stated reservations

confer, cf.

compare.

congenericity

congeneric species are species belonging to the same genus. Congeneric applied to generic names usually implies that the names refer to the same taxon i.e. synonymous genera.

conserve

to set aside or modify any provision of the Code so as, e.g.

– to preserve or permit the use of a name as a valid name by removing the obstacles to such use

– to preserve the use of a name in a taxonomic sense that would otherwise be incorrect

– to deem a work to be published or available despite its not satisfying
the normal criteria

In each case conservation is by a ruling of the Commission using its plenary power.

conserved name

a name otherwise unavailable or invalid that the Commission, by the use of its plenary power, has enabled to be used as a valid name by removal of the known obstacles to such use (see CONSERVE).

conspecificity

conspecific subspecies are subspecies belonging to the same species. Conspecific applied to species names usually implies that the names refer to the same taxon i.e. synonymous species.

coordination, principle of

see Principle of coordination.

corrected name

see Nomen correctum.

correct original spelling

see Original spelling.

corrigendum

a note published by an author, editor, or publisher of a work, expressly to cite one or more errors or omissions in that work together with their correction.

cotype

a term not recognized by the Code, formerly used for either syntype or paratype, but that should not now be used in zoological nomenclature [Recommendation 73E].

date of publication

of a work (and of a contained name and nomenclatural act): the date on which copies of the work become available by purchase or free distribution. If the actual date is not known, the date to be adopted is regulated by the provisions of Article 21.2-7.

declaration

a minor amendment to the Code for immediate incorporation, published in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, to remain in force until ratified or rejected by future International Zoological Congresses.

deem

to consider or rule something to be what it may or may not be.

definition

a statement in words that purports to give those characters which, in combination, uniquely distinguish a taxon [Articles 12 and 13].

denied name

see Nomen negatum.

description

a more or less complete statement of the observed characters of a taxon, without any special emphasis on those which distinguish it from other closely related taxa. See also: Definition, Diagnosis, Original description, Redescription.

designation

the nomenclatural act of an author or the Commission in fixing, by an express statement, the name-bearing type of a newly or previously established nominal genus, subgenus, species, or subspecies.

original designation

the designation of the name-bearing type of a nominal taxon when it is established.

subsequent designation

the designation of the name-bearing type of a nominal taxon published after the nominal taxon was established.

diacritic marks

Article 27 rules that diacritic marks, apostrophes or diaereses are not to be used in a taxonomic name and are to be deleted from such names originally published with them. [See Article 32.5.2]. The German umlaut sign deleted from a vowel should be replaced by ‘e’ inserted after the vowel, but only for taxonomic names based on German words and published before 1985.

diagnosis

a statement in words that purports to give those characters which differentiate the taxon from other taxa with which it is likely to be confused.

diagnostic characters

the characters, or most important characters, which distinguish a taxon from other similar or closely related taxa. See also: Diagnosis.

differential diagnosis

see Diagnosis.

direction

a term now abandoned; under previous editions of the Code, a statement published by the Commission, giving the result of a vote completing or correcting a ruling given in an Opinion. Directions have been replaced by Official Corrections.

disclaimer

a statement in a work, by an author, editor or publisher, that

– the entire work or

– all or specified names and nomenclatural acts in it are to be excluded for purposes of zoological nomenclature

division

– a rank that if treated as a division of a genus or subgenus is deemed to be of subgeneric rank for the purposes of nomenclature

– a taxon at the rank of division

doubtful name

see Nomen dubium.

dubious name

see Nomen dubium.

elevation in rank

see Status.

elide

to deliberately omit one or more letters within a word (as in Article 29.3.1.1).

elimination, fixation by

see Fixation by elimination

emendation

any demonstrably intentional change in the original spelling of an available name [Article 33.2], other than a mandatory change [Article 34]. (Does not include emendation of the scope of application of a name, which = emended diagnosis).

justified emendation

correction of an incorrect original spelling, takes authorship and date of original spelling [Article 33.2.2].

unjustified emendation

one made for any other reason, such names have their own status in nomenclature, taking authorship and date of their publication [Article 33.2.3].

emendatus, – a, – um, emend.

emendation.

emended diagnosis

change in the scope of application of a name, involving a change in the diagnosis of the taxon. Use for : Redefinition. (Not the same as emendation).

entity, taxonomic

see Taxon.

erect

see Establish.

error

in a name, or other word: an incorrect spelling.

copyist’s error

an incorrect spelling made in copying.

inadvertent error

an incorrect spelling, such as a lapsus calami, or a copyist’s or a printer’s error, not intended by the original author [Article 32.5.1].

printer’s error

an incorrect spelling made in type-setting (often called typographical error).

establish

used of a name = to make available.

et alia, et al.

and others.

ex

from, according to. Sometimes used within an authority citation.

ex nomine

by or under that name.

ex parte, e.p.

in part. See pro parte.

excluded name

a name that under Article 1.3 cannot be an available name, or one that has been disclaimed.

exclusus, – a, – um, excl.

excluded – used to indicate elements included in a taxon by a previous author or authors, but considered not to belong to it by the writer and excluded from it by him.

extant

– of a taxon: having living representatives

– of a specimen: still in existence

extinct

of a taxon: having no living representatives.

family group

the highest-ranking group of taxa whose names are fully regulated by the Code. The family group includes taxa at the ranks of superfamily, family, subfamily, tribe, and any other rank below superfamily and above the genus group that may be required, such as subtribe.

fide

on the authority of, or with reference to publication, to a cited published statement.

field identification

the determination of the taxonomic identity of an individual specimen, under field conditions, often with the aid of keys etc. See also : Identification.

first reviser, principle of the

See Principle of the first reviser.

fixation

a general term for determination of name bearing type, whether by designation, or by any other means.

fixation by elimination

the supposed fixation of a type species by the subsequent transfer of all but one of the originally included nominal species from a genus. Not in itself an available method of type fixation [Article 69.4; but see Article 69.1.1].

forgotten name

see Nomen oblitum.

form (forma)

– a term that if published after 1960 is deemed to denote infrasubspecific rank but that if published before 1961 is to be interpreted according to Article 45.6.3-4

– those individuals of a species or subspecies differing, in a stated way, from other individuals within the taxon (e.g. larval and adult forms, male and female forms, ecological forms, and seasonal forms)

fomrulae, zoological

modifications of available names throughout a taxonomic group by the addition of a standard prefix or suffix in order to indicate that the taxa named are members of that group [Article 1.3.7]. Zoological formulae are excluded from the provisions of the Code. The suffixes of family-group names denote ranks, not taxonomic groups, and do not form zoological formulae.

generitype

see Type species.

generotype

see Type species.

genotype

a term not recognized by the Code, formerly used for type species, but that should not now be used in zoological nomenclature [Recommendation 67A].

genus-group

the taxonomic categories genus and subgenus, including collective groups and ichnotaxa at the genus-group level.

hapantotype

one or more preparations consisting of directly related individuals representing distinct stages in the life cycle, which together form the name-bearing type in an extant species of protistan [Article 72.5.4]. A hapantotype, while a series of individuals, is a holotype that must not be restricted by lectotype selection; however, if a hapantotype is found to contain individuals of more than one species, components may be excluded until it contains individuals of only one species [Article 73.3.2].

hierarchy, taxonomic

a system of classification based on a sequence of taxonomic categories rankedby their increasing levels of inclusiveness.

holotype

a single specimen (except in the case of a hapantotype) designated or indicated the type specimen by the original author at the time of publication of the original description.

homonym

each of two or more identical but independently proposed names for the same or different taxa.

junior homonym

later published of two homonyms (= a preoccupied name).

senior homonym

earlier published of two homonyms.

primary homonym

each of two or more identical species names, which, at the time of original publication, were proposed in combination with the same generic name i.e. the species were named for different although homonymous genera.

secondary homonym

each of two or more identical species names, which, at the time of original publication, were proposed in combination with different generic names, but which, through subsequent transference, have come to bear the same combination of generic and specific name.

homonym citation

authorship for two or more homonyms may be cited using ‘non’ and/or ‘nec’ as follows:- A…. Smith 1947 non Jones 1958 nec Brown 1960.

homonymy, principle of

see Principle of homonymy.

horizontal classification

classification which stresses grouping together taxa in a similar stage of evolution, rather than location on the same phyletic line. See also : Vertical classification.

hybrid name

names of progeny of two individuals belonging to different taxa, names given to hybrids are not normally available, as they are individuals, not populations, and hence not taxa. See Articles 1.3.3, 17, 23.8 for treatment of names given to hybrids and to taxa or hybrid origin.

ibidem, ibid, ib.

the same, in the same place.

ichnotaxon

a taxon based on the (fossilized) work of an animal, including fossilized trails, tracks and burrows (trace fossils), made by an animals. Such names are covered by provisions of the current Code.

iconotype

a drawing or photograph of a type specimen.

identification

the placing of individual specimens into previously established taxa, by deductive procedures. The determination of the taxonomic identity of an individual. See also : Field identification, Misidentification.

illegitimate name

see Invalid name.

imperfect name

see Nomen imperfectum.

in litteris, in litt.

in correspondence, communicated in writing, used for an unpublished source acknowledgement.

inappropriate name

a name that denotes a character, a quality, or an origin not possessed by the taxon bearing that name.

incertae sedis

of a taxon – one of uncertain taxonomic position, ‘of uncertain seat’.

incorrect subsequent spelling

see Subsequent spelling.

indication

– publication of evidence that a name proposed before 1931 is available, despite the absence of a definition or description [Article 12.2]. See also Typification.

ineditus, – a, – um

unpublished

infraspecific name

a general term for any name below the rank of species. The term includes subspecific and infrasubspecific names.

infrasubspecific

of a category or name – of lower rank than the subspecies, and, as such, not subject to regulation by the Code e.g. form, race, variety. Article 1.3.4.

international code of zoological nomenclature

see Code.

international commission

see Commission.

international zoological congresses

the legislative bodies responsible for the rules of the Code and for authorization of the activities of the Commission.

interpolated name

a name placed within parentheses

– after a generic name to denote a subgenus

– after a genus-group name to denote an aggregate of species, or

– after a specific name to denote an aggregate of subspecies [Article 6]. Names used in this way are not counted as one of the names in a binomen or trinomen

invalid name

any name (available or unavailable) given to a taxon which is not the valid name.

invalidation

the action of making a name invalid. May be brought about by suppression by the Commission.

inviolate name

see Nomen inviolatum.

junior homonym

the later published of two or more identical but independently proposed names for the same or different taxa. (= a preoccupied name). See also : Homonym.

junior synonym

the later published of two or more different names applied to one and the same taxon. See also : Synonym.

justifiable emendation

see Emendation.

key

a tabulation of diagnostic characters of taxa in dichotomous couplets to facilitate rapid identification. Key character – a character of special utility in a key.

kingdom

the highest ranked category employed in the taxonomic hierarchy. (Editions of the Code prior to 4th referred to a single taxon “Animalia”, not widely accepted today, at the rank of kingdom.).

lapsus calami

a ‘slip of the pen’, an unintentional error, especially in spelling taxonomic names. (Compare : Unjustifiable emendation).

law of homonymy

see Homonymy, principle of.

law of priority

see Priority, principle of.

legitimate name

see Valid name.

lectotype

one of several syntypes, designated by any author after the original publication of a species name as the ‘type specimen’ for the taxonomic name. Designated only where there was no original holotype [Article 74].

list of available names in zoology

the cumulative term for those parts of the List of Available Names in Zoology which have been adopted by the Commission under Article 79.

line precedence

when two different names for the same taxon are first published in the same publication, then the one which appears on the earlier line has line precedence. (See also : Page precedence). Line precedence does not necessarily mean priority as well – this is determined by the action of the first reviser.

loco citato, loc. cit., l.c.

in the place cited, used to avoid repetition of a bibliographic reference already given.

mandatory change

see Change, mandatory

manuscript name

an unpublished taxonomic name, may be intended for eventual publication or be used in correspondence or in public speech. Have no standing in nomenclature until they are acceptably published.

mihi, m.

to me, dative singular of ego, I. Used after a name to indicate the writer’s responsibility for its proposal.

misapply

to apply, deliberately or otherwise, a name in a sense which is not correct under the provisions of the Code (e.g. in a manner not in accord with the name-bearing type).

misidentification

the misapplication of a previously established taxon name to an individual specimen. See also : Identification.

monotypy

a situation where a genus group taxon is established with only one immediately subordinate taxon. e.g. a genus containing only one species. See also Subsequent monotypy.

mutatis characteribus, mut. char.

with the characters changed (by), used in same way as emendatus.

naked name

see Nomen nudum.

name-bearing type

the type genus, type species, holotype, lectotype, series of syntypes (which, together, form the name- bearing type), neotype, type slide, or hapantotype, that provides the objective standard of reference whereby the application of the name of a taxon can be determined.

natio

race.

natural classification

classification based on inferences concerning the phylogenetic relationships of animals (i.e. evolutionary classification).

nec

and not (of), nor (of).

neotype

a specimen selected as type specimen subsequent to the original description in cases where the original holotype, or lectotype, or all paratypes, or all syntypes are lost or destroyed, or suppressed by the Commission.

new combination

see Comb. nov.

new name

see Nomen novum.

new replacement name

see Nomen novum

new scientific name

a scientific name, available or unavailable, when first proposed for a taxon.

new status

see Status.

nobis, nob., n.

to us, dative plural of ego, I. Used after a name to indicate the author’s responsibility for its proposal.

nomen ambiguum

ambiguous name, one which has been used so long by different authors in different senses that it has become a persistent cause of error and confusion.

nomen collectivum

see Collective group.

nomen conservandum (nomina conservata)

names classed as available and valid by action of the ICZN exercising its Plenary Powers. Includes rulings to conserve junior synonyms in place of rejected forgotten names (nomen oblitum). Such names are entered on the Official Lists.

nomen correctum (nomina correcta)

corrected names or ‘improved’ names, available names which are mandatory and allowable emendations of imperfect names or of taxonomic names higher than family (which are not subject to name form and ending regulations). Do not depend on transfer in taxon rank or assignment. (= an emended name).

nomen dubium (nomina dubia)

doubtful or dubious names, names which are not certainly applicable to any known taxon or for which the evidence is insufficient to permit recognition of the taxon to which they belong. May possess availability conducive to uncertainty and instability.

nomen imperfectum (nomina imperfecta)

imperfect names, available names which when originally published met all mandatory requirements of the Code (i.e. met all criteria of availability – Articles 10-20) but which contained some defect needing correction, such as names incorporating hyphens, diacritical marks or apostrophes, higher taxon names using an incorrectly formed stem.

nomen inquirendum (nomina inquirenda)

‘names under enquiry’. See Nomen dubium.

nomen inviolatum (nomina inviolata)

inviolate names, all available names not subject to any sort of alteration from their originally published form i.e. they were correct as originally published and need no correction or emendation.

nomen negatum (nomina negata)

denied names, unavailable names which are incorrect original spellings as defined by the Code.

nomen non rite publicatum., nom. non rite public.

name not properly published. See : Unpublished name, Manuscript name.

nomen novum (= nom nov)

new name which is expressly proposed as a replacement name for a preoccupied name, automatically takes the same type and type locality. (= a replacement name or substitute name for a preoccupied name). Commonly applied to names proposed to replace junior homonyms.

nomen nudum (nomina nuda)

a Latin term referring to a name that, if published before 1931, fails to conform to Article 12; or, if published after 1930, fails to conform to Article
13. A nomen nudum is not an available name, and therefore the same name may be made available later for the same or a different concept; in such a case it would take authorship and date [Articles 50, 21] from that act of establishment, not from any earlier publication as a nomen nudum.

nomen nullum (nomina nulla)

null names, unavailable names which as defined by the Code are non demonstrably intentional changes of an original spelling i.e. a form of incorrect subsequent spelling.

nomen oblitum (nomina oblita)

forgotten names, senior synonyms which have remained unused in the literature for many years. Have been treated differently by different editions of the Code, and remain unavailable names.

nomen perfectum (nomina perfecta)

perfect names, available names which when originally published met all mandatory requirements of the Code and needed no correction of any kind, but which are validly alterable by change of ending.

nomen protectum

“protected name” applied to a name which has been given precedence over it unused senior synonym or senior homonym relegated to the status of nomen oblitum (see Article 23.9.2).

nomen substitutum (nomina substituta)

substitute name, any available name whether new or not, proposed as replacement for any invalid name, such as a junior homonym. A substitute name proposed specifically for a preoccupied name is a nomen novum.

nomen translatum (nomina translata)

transferred names, available names which have been altered (usually in endings only), the change depending on transfer from one taxonomic rank to another, or from one taxon to another. e.g. Spirifer ambiguus changed to new combination Composita ambigua: Orthidae downgraded to Orthinae etc. Authorship and date remains as for original name.

nomen triviale

trivial name, an expression used by Linnaeus and others for the specific name. Applied by some authors in same sense as vernacular name.

nomen vanum (nomina vana)

vain names, available names consisting of unjustified but intentional emendations of previously published names. Have status in nomenclature with their own authorship and date.

nomen vetitum (nomina vetita)

impermissible names, unavailable names published for divisions of the genus group other than genus and subgenus, which are not accepted by the Code. e.g. a subsection of a subgenus.

nomenclatural status

of a name, nomenclatural act or work: its standing in nomenclature (i.e. its availability or otherwise, and in the case of a name its spelling, the typification of the nominal taxon it denotes, and its precedence relative to other names).

nomenclature

the description of new taxa or alterations to the concept of previously described taxa which involve changes in the names of taxa.

nominal taxon

a named taxon, objectively defined by its type taxon. Thus the nominal family MUSCIDAE is always the one to which its nominal type genus, Musca, belongs.

nominate subordinate taxon

a subordinate taxon which bears the same names as its immediate higher taxon (with endings altered according to rank for higher taxa). Thus Grus grus is the nominate species of the genus Grus.

nominotypical taxon

the nominal taxon at a subordinate rank within the family group, the genus group, or the species group that contains the name-bearing type of a divided taxonomic taxon of that group.

null name

see Nomen nullum.

numerical taxonomy

study of the relationships of taxa by the application of numerical similarity values to characters so as to rank into categories based on degree of overall similarity.

numericlature

an attempt to express the natural order (i.e. classification) of animals in numbers, so that each taxon name is represented by a numerical code, the structure of which indicates its taxonomic position, rank and affinities.

objective

demonstrably true, not a matter of individual opinion; for contrast with subjective.

objective synonym

each of two or more different names applied to one and the same taxon based on the same type. See also : Synonym.

official correction

a correction, issued by the Commission, or an error or omission in a previously published opinion. See also : Direction.

official index

a list of names or works suppressed or declared invalid by action of the Commission. The following are compiled and maintained:-
– Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Family-Group Names in Zoology
– Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Generic Names in Zoology
– Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Specific Names in Zoology
– Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Works in Zoological Nomenclature

official list

a list of names or works which have been conserved or declared valid by action of the Commission. The following are compiled and maintained:-
– Official List of Family-Group Names in Zoology
– Official List of Generic Names in Zoology
– Official List of Specific Names in Zoology
– Official List of Works Approved as Available for Zoological Nomenclature

see also : List of Available Names in Zoology.

offsprint

see Separate.

opere citato, op. cit.

in the work cited, used to avoid the repetition of part of a bibliographic reference already given.

opinion

a decision of the Commission involving a question of application of the Code to a particular name and situation, published in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature.

original description

the description of a nominal taxon when it is established. See also : Description, Original diagnosis.

original diagnosis

a formal statement of characters which distinguish a taxon from other similar or closely related taxa, published at the time of proposal of a new taxonomic name. See also : Diagnosis, Original description.

original publication

– the work in which a name or nomenclatural act was first published

– of a name or nomenclatural act: publication for the first time

original spelling

the original spelling of a name is to be kept as the ‘correct original spelling’ unless it does not meet the requirements of the Code Article 32.5.

– incorrect original spelling – an original spelling that is incorrect

– multiple original spellings – two or more different original spellings for the same name

originally included nominal species

of a nominal genus-group taxon: the nominal species deemed to be originally included under Article 67.2.

orthographia mutata, orth. mut.

with an altered spelling (by).

page precedence

when two names for the same taxon are first published in the same publication, then the one which appears on the earlier page has precedence. Page precedence does not necessarily mean priority as well – this is determined by the action of the first reviser. See also : Line precedence.

paralectotype

any one of the original syntypes remaining after the selection of a lectotype.

paraype

every specimen in a type series other than the holotype which were before the author at the time of preparation of the original description and were so designated and indicated there.

part of the list of available names in zoology

A list, adopted by the Commission under Article 79, of available names in a major taxonomic field.

perfect name

see Nomen perfectum.

phenetic classification

classification based on degree of overall similarity.

phenotype

the total characteristics of an individual (i.e. its appearance) resulting from interaction between its genotype and its environment.

plenary powers

the Commission is empowered by use of its Plenary Powers to prevent the application of a rule of the Code where such application in a particular case would disturb the stability or universality or cause confusion in zoological nomenclature. Articles 78, 81.

plesiotype

a specimen identified by a subsequent author as belonging to a particular species.

potentially valid name

an available name which is not objectively invalid.

precedence

the order of seniority of available names or nomenclatural acts determined

– by application of the Principle of Priority as specified in Article 23, or

– in the case of simultaneously published names or acts, as specified in Article 24, or

– by a ruling of the Commission using its Plenary Power

preprint

a work published, with its own specified date of publication (imprint date), in advance of its later reissue as part of a collective or cumulative work. Preprints may be published works for the purposes of zoological nomenclature. See also : Separate.

preoccupied name

the later published of two identical but independently proposed names for the same or different taxa. = Junior homonym.

prevailing usage

see Usage, prevailing

primary hononym

each of two or more identical species names, which, at the time of original publication, were proposed in combination with the same generic name i.e. the species were named for different, though homonymous genera. See also : Homonym.

principle of binominal nomenclature

the principle that the scientific name of a species, and not of a taxon at any other rank, is a combination of two names (a binomen); the use of a trinomen for the name of a subspecies and of uninominal names for taxa above the species group is in accord with the Principle. See Articles 5, 11.4.

principle of coordination

the principle that within the family group, genus group or species group a name established for a taxon at any rank in the group is deemed to be simultaneously established with the same author and date for taxa based on the same name-bearing type at other ranks in the group [Articles 36, 43, 46].

principle of the first reviser

the principle that the relative precedence of two or more names or nomenclatural acts published on the same date, or of different original spellings of the same name, is determined by the First Reviser [Article 24.2].

principle of homonymy

the principle that the name of each taxon must be unique. Consequently a name that is a junior homonym of another name must not be used as a valid name [Article 52].

principle of priority

the principle that the valid name of a taxon is the oldest available name applied to it (taking into consideration the other provisions of Article 23), provided that the name is not invalidated by any provision of the Code or by any ruling by the Commission [Article 23].

principle of typification

the principle that each nominal taxon in the family group, genus group or species group has, actually or potentially, a name-bearing type fixed to provide the objective standard of reference by which the application of the name is determined [Article 61] (see Typification).

priority, of a name or nomenclatural act

seniority fixed by the date of availability.

priority, principle of

see Principle of priority.

pro parte, p. p.

in part, used in author citations to show that only part of a taxon, as defined by a previous author, is being referred to by the writer.

proposal to commission

see Application to commission.

protected name

See Nomen protectum.

protistan

an organism classified in the Protista. Some such organisms (e.g. those formerly classified as Protozoa) are usually treated as animals for the purposes of nomenclature, and when so treated their names are regulated by the Code [Article 1.1.1].

provisions

term equivalent to rules.

publication

– any published work

– the issuing of a work conforming to Articles 8 and 9

published name

any name which is printed and circulated (i.e. meets the criteria of publication as stated by the Code Articles 8 & 9), may be available, unavailable, valid or invalid.

RACE

an infrasubspecific category which has no status under the Code.

RANK

the level, for nomenclatural purposes, of a taxon in a taxonomic hierarchy (e.g. all families are for nomenclatural purposes at the same rank, which lies between superfamily and subfamily).

recommendation by commission

published along with the Code, indicate the best procedure in cases not strictly covered by application of the rules. Compliance with them is not mandatory but highly advisable.

redefinition

see Emended diagnosis.

redescription

a more or less complete statement of the observed characters of a taxon, without any special emphasis on those which distinguish it from other closely related taxa, including new or altered information to that usually given in the description.

reduction in status

see Status.

referral

transfer of a subordinate taxon from one taxon to another e.g. species removed from one genus and referred to another, genus removed from one family and referred to another.

refusal by commission

the Commission may refuse to use its Plenary Powers in any given case proposed to it. In such a case the Opinion rendered is to specify the name(s) to be used in the case in question, and the action (if any) to be taken.

reinstate

with reference to a name previously rejected as being a junior secondary homonym: to treat it as a valid name if the conditions of Article 59.4 are met.

reject

to set aside, in accord with the provisions of the Code and, in the case of a name, taxonomic judgement,

– a work for the purposes of zoological nomenclature, or

– a name in favour of another name

rejected name

– a name which, under the provisions of the Code, cannot be used as a valid name and which is set aside in favour of another name

– a name which, as a matter of taxonomic judgement, is either treated as a junior subjective synonym of a name used as valid or is believed not to be applicable to the taxon under consideration

replacement name

see Nomen novum and Nomen substitutum.

reprint

for the purposes of the Code, the same as a separate.

reviser, first

see First reviser.

revision

the presentation of new material or new interpretations integrated with previous knowledge through summary and reevaluation for a particular taxon.

rite

properly, correctly, according to the rules.

rules

the Articles of the Code but not titles, Recommendations, and Examples. The rules are mandatory. A term equivalent to provisions.

saltem

at least.

scheda, sched.

label (or a specimen).

scientifica name

formal nomenclatural designation of a taxon. = Taxonomic name. Conforms to Code Article 1, as opposed to a vernacular name. A scientific name is not necessarily available.

secondary homonym

each of two or more identical species names, which, at the time of original publication, were proposed in combination with different generic names, but which, through subsequent transference, have come to bear the same combination of generic and specific names. See also : Homonym.

section

– a rank that if treated as a division of a genus or subgenus is deemed to be of subgeneric rank for the purposes of nomenclature [Article 10.4]

– a taxon at the rank of section

secundum, sec.

according to.

sedis incertae

see incertae sedis.

senior homonym

the earlier published of two or more identical but independently proposed names for the same or different taxa. See also : Homonym.

senior synonym

the earlier published of two or more different names applied to one and the same taxon. See also : Synonym.

sensu

a latin term meaning “in the sense of”. Often used to refer to the usage of a name by a (cited) author in a sense different from that of the original author or some other previous author.

sensu amplo

see sensu lato.

sensu lato, sens. lat., s.l.

in the broad sense i.e. of a taxon – including all its subordinate taxa and/or other taxa sometimes considered as distinct.

sensu stricto, sens. str., s.s.

in the strict sense, in the narrow sense. Most often used to indicate the nominate subordinate taxon (e.g. A…. b…. s.s. = A…. b…. b….; A…. s.s. = A…. (A….) etc.). Or it may just indicate exclusion of similar taxa sometimes united with it.

separate

a copy (reprint or offprint) of a work contained in a periodical, book or other larger work, intended for distribution (usually privately by the author(s) detached from the larger work which contains it but without its own specified date of publication (imprint date). The advance distribution of separates after 1999 does not constitute publication for purposes of zoological nomenclature.

seu

either, or.

sic

this, to signalize exact transcription.

sine

without.

species group

the taxonomic categories species and subspecies.

species indeterminata, sp. indet.

undetermined species, one not identifiable with the description for a name already published. Usually given with a generic name only e.g. A…. sp. indet.

species inquirendum (= species inquirenda)

a species to be queried, a doubtfully identified species requiring further investigation. See also Nomen inquirendum.

specific name

the second name in a binomen and in a trinomen [Article 5].

spelling, original

see Original spelling.

spelling, subsequent

see Subsequent spelling.

spelling, variant

see Variant spellings.

stability of nomenclature

the Preamble of the Code states ‘the object of the Code is to promote stability’ – one of the most important rules of the Code. If strict application of the rules of the Code threaten stability in an individual case then application of those rules may be suspended by the Commission under its Plenary Powers.

status

the status of a taxon indicates the rank (i.e. level in hierarchy of taxonomic categories) to which it belongs e.g. genus, subfamily etc. The status of a taxon may be elevated or reduced (with accompanying ending change when necessary), and this has no bearing on the authorship of the taxon. e.g. Subfamily A….inae Smith 1972 may be elevated (raised) to family A….idae Smith 1972 genus B…. Jones 1960 may be reduced (lowered) to subgenus A…. (B….) Jones 1960

status novus, stat. nov.

new status, representing a change in status.

statue of limitation

see Limitation, statute of.

strickland code

a code of nomenclature prepared by a committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, first published in 1842. See also : Code.

subjective

depending on judgement, a matter of individual opinion; for contrast with objective.

subjective synonym

each of two or more different names applied to one and the same taxon based on different types, but regarded as referring to the same taxon by those who hold them to be synonyms. See also : Synonym.

subordinate taxon

a taxon at a lower rank than the taxon of the same coordinate group with which it is compared.

subsequent monotypy

the situation arising when a nominal genus or subgenus was established before 1931 without any included nominal species, and when only a single taxonomic species denoted by an available name was first subsequently referred to it [Article 69.3].

subsequent spelling

any change in the original spelling of a name becomes a subsequent spelling. See Code Article 33.

correct subsequent spelling

brought about by justified emendations of the original spelling.

incorrect subsequent spelling

a change in spelling other than a justified emendation.

subspecific name

the third name in a trinomen [Article 5.2].

substitute name

any available name, whether new or not, used to replace an older available name. See Emendation, New replacement name (Nomen novum), synonym.

suppression

a form of invalidation. A name which would be valid according to strict application of the rules of the Code, may be expressly suppressed by the Commission, under its Plenary Powers, to allow validation of another name, which would not otherwise have been valid (i.e. according to the rules of the Code); converts a previously valid name into an invalid
one.

synonym

each of two or more different names applied to one and the same taxon. See also : Junior synonym, Senior synonym, Objective synonym & Subjective synonym

synonymy

– the relationships between different names applied to the same taxon.

– a chronological list of taxonomic names which have been applied to a single taxon, including authors and dates. When this includes bibliographic references for the name = Full Bibliographical Synonymy.

syntype

each specimen of a type series from which neither a holotype nor a lectotype has been designated. The syntypes collectively constitute the name-bearing type.

systematics

studies of the kinds and diversity of organisms and of any and all the relationships among them i.e. the science of the diversity of organisms – deals with populations, species and higher taxa.

tautonymy

one and the same name applied both to a genus-group name and to an included species-group name e.g. Bison bison.

absolute tautonymy

the identical spelling of a generic or subgeneric name and the specific or subspecific name of one of its originally included nominal species or subspecies [Articles 18, 68.4].

linnaean tautonymy

the identical spelling of a new generic or subgeneric name established before 1931 and a pre- 1758 name cited as a synonym of only one of the species or subspecies originally included in that genus [Article 68.5].

virtual tautonymy

the nearly identical spelling, or the same origin or meaning, of a generic or subgeneric name and the specific or subspecific name in a binomen or trinomen. Not a term regulated by the Code [but see Recommendation 69A.2].

taxonomic group

a taxon with all its subordinate taxa and their individuals; e.g. the taxonomic group Insecta consists of all insects and their taxa.

taxonomic name

see Scientific name.

taxonomy

studies of the relationships of taxa, including positional changes which do not involve changes in the names of taxa. See also : Nomenclature, Systematics.

tomo citato, tom. cit.

in the volume cited, used to avoid repetition of part of a bibliographic reference already given.

topotype

a specimen collected at the type locality, not necessarily part of the type series and not regulated by the Code.

topotypical population

population occurring at the type locality from which the type specimen was taken.

trace fossils

see Work of an animal.

transferred name

see Nomen translatum.

trinomen

the combination of a generic name, a specific name, and a subspecific name, that together constitute a scientific name subspecies.

trivial name

see Nomen triviale.

type

the standard of reference for determining the precise application of a name. Each taxon has, actually or potentially, a type.
– Type of a nominal species is a specimen (type specimen)
– Type of a nominal genus is the nominal species (type species)
– Type of a nominal family is the nominal genus (type genus)

type designation

determination of the type of a taxon. (= Type selection).

type genus

the type of a taxon at the family group level (i.e. family, subfamily, tribe etc.) – the nominal genus.

type horizon

the geological stratum from which the name-bearing type of a nominal species or subspecies was collected.

type host

the host species with which the name-bearing type of a nominal species or subspecies was associated.

type locality

the geographical (and, where relevant, stratigraphical) location of the occurrence of the population from which the type specimen (i.e. holotype, lectotype or neotype) was taken. Population occurring at type locality = topotypical population. Specimens collected at type locality = topotypes.

type material

a collective term for all type specimens. Zoologists should ensure that such material is transferred as quickly as possible to public institutions where their safety is guaranteed and they are accessible to other workers.

type selection

see Type designation.

type series

the series of specimens which either constitutes the name-bearing type (syntypes) of a nominal species or subspecies or from which the name-bearing type has been or may be designated.

type species

the nominal species that is the name-bearing type of a nominal genus or subgenus.

type specimen

any specimen of the type series.

typification, principle of

see Principle of typification.

typus conservandus, typ. cons.

a type to be conserved.

unavailable name

a name which does not meet all mandatory provisions of the Code. Articles 10-20 or that is an excluded name under Article 1.3. Has no status in nomenclature. See also : Available name. Unavailable names include nomen nudum, – negatum, – vetitum, – nullum, – oblitum (all).

unjustifiable emendation

see Emendation.

uninominal

consisting of a single name (e.g. names of the family group and of the genus group).

unpublished name

any name which has not been printed and circulated to meet the criteria of publication as stated by the Code Articles 7-9.

usage, prevailing

of a name: that usage of the name which is adopted by at least a substantial majority of the most recent authors concerned with the relevant taxon, irrespective of how long ago their work was published.

vain name

see Nomen vanum.

valid name

the correct name for a given taxon, which may have several available names, one of which (usually the oldest) is chosen as the valid name. The valid name is always an available name (the reverse is not always true). An invalid name may be either an available or unavailable name.

validation

the action of making a name valid.

variant spellings

different spellings of specific or subspecific names that are deemed to be identical for the purposes of the Principle of Homonymy [Article 58].

variety

a term that if published after 1960 is deemed to denote infrasubspecific rank but that if published before 1961 is to be interpreted according to Article 45.6.3-4.

vere

the true.

vernacular names

the colloquial names of taxa i.e. in any language or form other than that of zoological nomenclature. Have no status in nomenclature.

vertical classification

classification which stresses common descent and tends to unite ancestral and descendant groups of a phyletic line in a single higher taxon, separating them from contemporaneous taxa having reached a similar grade of evolutionary change. Compare : Horizontal classification.

vide

see.

work of an animal

results of the activity but not part of the animal itself e.g. tracks, trails, worm-tubes, borings (but excludes some fossil evidence such as internal moulds, external impressions and replacements). Names given to them are covered by certain rules of the Code Articles 1.2.1, 1.3.6, 10.3, 12.2.8.

zoological congresses

see International Zoological Congresses.

zoological name

the scientific name of an animal taxon in binominal nomenclature.

zoological nomenclature

the system of scientific names for animal taxa and the provisions for the formation, treatment, and use of those names.

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