Taxonomic Rules and Recommendations Provisions of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (iczn.org) authored by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature condensed and interpreted by D. Folkerts for BIOL 3030

(also see: International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants - International Association for Plant Taxonomy iapt-taxon.org)

These rules and recommendations are for the purpose of unambiguity, precision, universality, continuity, consistency, and stability of our naming system, as compatible with taxonomic freedom.

Article 1-2: Definition and scope - extant and extinct animals (Metazoa and protistan taxa treated as animals). Not hybrids or trace fossils. Independent of other codes

Article 3: Starting point of zoological nomenclature - Jan. 1, 1758 (publication of Linnaeus’ Systema Naturae 10th edition).

Article 4-6: Number of words in scientific names. uninomial names - names of taxa higher than species rank. Principle of binominal nomenclature - species names (and not of a taxon of any other rank) - binomen = generic name + specific epithet. subspecies names - trinomen = binomen followed by subspecific epithet.

Interpolated names. Name of subgenus may be inserted in parentheses between genus name and specific epithet.

Article 7-9: Application and publication. Publication is necessary. Criteria - public and permanent scientific record, obtainable in simultaneous and durable copies or in widely accessible electronic copies with fixed content. (Additional details included.) What does NOT constitute published work - ex. Handwriting after 1930, etc.

Article 10-20: Availability of names. If general conditions are met, as stated elsewhere in the code, even if not originally named as an animal, or if changes in synonymy occur.

Requirements - Publication; use of Latin alphabet; words derived from Latin, Greek, any other language, or an arbitrary combination of letters; consistent use of binominal nomenclature, including subspecific trinomina; valid when first proposed; new names must be explicitly expressed as intentionally new. Description - a description (or reference to one) that includes characteristics to differentiate the taxon. Anonymous publications after 1950 are not available. Tautonyms and inappropriate names are OK (eg. Bison bison; albus even if not white). Names of fossils cannot be made by simply adding a suffix to name of extant species.

Recommendations - Vernacular names should not be used unless latinized. Registry of new names with the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature.

Article 21-22: Date of publication. Determination of date. Last day of month or year is assumed when not specified. Etc., etc. Citation of date. When cited, the date of publication follows the author.

Article 23-24: Validity of names. Synonymy and homonymy. Principle of Priority. The valid name for a taxon is the oldest available name unless invalidated by another name. The senior synonym unless it is a junior homonym. Priority is not affected by elevation or reduction in rank. Unless the senior synonym or homonym has not been used in publication since 1899, and the junior name has been used in 25 or more publications by 10 or more authors for more than 50 years. Then the junior name may be declared in publication as nomen protectum and the older name as nomen oblitum. In the case of simultaneous publication, higher rank takes precedence over lower rank; or as determined by the first reviser.

Article 25-34: Formation and treatment of names. Names should appear in complete form when mentioned for the first time in a publication, but may later be abbreviated. Ex. E. coli. Assumption of Greek or Latin. Only letters, no marks. Upper case/lower case letters where appropriate.

Spelling. The original spelling is correct unless demonstrably incorrect. Incorrect spellings may be emended, but an alternative spelling adopted by the original author is not to be corrected. Ex. Alligator mississipiensis.

Recommendation - new names should be formed with subsequent users in mind, appropriate, compact, euphonious, memorable, inoffensive.

Article 35-41: Family-group names. Superfamily, family, subfamily, tribe, subtribe. Names determined by reference to the type genus of the nominal taxon. Principle of coordination. When a taxon is raised or lowered in rank, the type genus, author, and name stem remain the same, while avoiding all synonymy and homonymy.

Any family-group name should be a noun in nominative plural form, based on an included generic name, and ending with the appropriate suffix (to be added to stem of type genus name).

-oidea for superfamily -idae for family -inae for subfamily -ini for infrafamily or tribe -ina for subtribe

Article 42-44: Genus-group names. Genus, subgenus. Principle of coordination. Nominotypical subgenus - contains the type and name of the genus.

Genus-group names must be two or more letters and treated as a noun in nominative singular form, taking gender from Latin or Greek.

Commemorative name ending: -ia (ex. Jonesia) Article 45-49 : Species-group names. Species, subspecies. Application of names determined by reference to the name-bearing type. Follow the principle of coordination. The nominotypical subspecies contains the type of the species and bears the same name and authorship. Rules apply even if genus name is changed.

Species-group names (epithets) must be a word of two or more letters and treated as an adjective, participle, or noun, agreeing in gender with the genus name. A species-group name must be published in unambiguous combination with a generic name.

Commemorative name endings: Noun form: man -i or men (or men and women) -orum woman -ae or women -arum Adjective form: man -ianus or men (or men and women) -ianum woman -iana or women -arum

Article 50-51: Authorship. Authorship is unaffected by changes in rank or combination. Citation of authorship in publication is optional, although customary and often advisable (recommended to be cited at least once in a publication). In citation, the author’s name should appear after the binomen, in parentheses if in new combination. Citation of date of publication and of reviser is optional.

Article 52-60: Homonymy. Two or more distinct taxa must not bear the same name. In a case of homonymy, only the senior homonym (precedence by date or rank) is valid. Primary (when originally in same combination) and secondary (when homonymous in new combination) homonyms included. A rejected junior homonym is replaced by the next oldest synonym, if available.

Article 61-76: The type concept. Each taxon must have a designated, name-bearing type. The type provides an objective standard of reference for the taxon.

The type for a species must be a specimen or set of specimens, type or type series. holotype (the name-bearing specimen) syntype lectotype paratype (paralectotype) allotype neotype topotype

The type for a genus must be a species and it’s type, the type species. (Fixed by original designation or monotypy or tautonymy.)

The type for a family must be a genus and it’s type, the type genus.

The type bears the name of the more inclusive group and is the nominate group.

Article 77-90: The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. Source of authority, power, duty, constitution, regulations.