The International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature Author(S): R

The International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature Author(s): R. E. Buchanan Source: Taxon, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Apr., 1956), pp. 35-36 Published by: International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1216945 . Accessed: 15/03/2014 08:59

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This content downloaded from 212.238.114.212 on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 08:59:50 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE INTERNATIONAL RULES OF ZOOLOGICALNOMENCLATURE* by R. E. Buchanan (Ames, Iowa)

The XIV InternationalCongress of Zoology restrictions placed by the International lield in Copenhagen, 1953, approved the Zoological Trust upon publication of quo- content of the Revised International Rules tations from their copyrighted publication, of Zoological Nomenclature, and directed the brochure includes in its title "An un- that they be edited for publication. The official interpretation of the International literature bearing upon the revision of the Rules of Zoological Nomenclature" and the "Rules" is voluminous and detailed, it is cover bears the statement "Issued Septem- phrased carefully and usually quite legal- ber 1955. Not published." The booklet istically. The zoologists charged their Inter- (100 pp.) is paraphrased from the "Bulletin national Commission on Zoological Nomen- of Zoological Nomenclature" and the "Co- clature with the task of preparing draft copy penhagen Decisions". The material is well for the revision to be finally approved at organized, includes a glossary, and has an the Copenhagen Congress of 1953. This excellent index. The author states clearly Commission held fifteen meetings in Paris that: "it should not be quoted as an in July, 1948, at the time of the XIII Inter- authority for any nomenclatural proposition". national Congress. Practically the entire The Glossary is of interest in showing the Volume 4 (parts 1-24, 1959) of their official development of a terminology which has organ "The Bulletin of Zoological Nomen- come to differ in many respects from that of clature" is given over to the "Official Record Botany and Bacteriology. These differences of Proceedings of the International Commis- in use of terms are particularly significant to sion on Zoological Nomenclature". Including the microbiologist working with the protozoa, the excellent index, there are 760 pages. On and are of interest to all biologists. Some of December 31, 1953, there was published the the differences are noteworthy: "Copenhagen Decisions on Zoological No- Binary nomenclature (the binomial nomen- menclature of the R&gles Internationales de clature of the bacteriologist) has been re- la Nomenclature Zoologique" adopted by the placed by "binominal nomenclature". Copenhagen Congress, August, 1953, and Binomen is introduced as the standard c.dited by Mr. Francis Hemming. At this expression to indicate the name of a species, Congress Mr. Hemming was authorized to replacing the older designations, species name proceed with the preparation of the Official and specific name. It is the binominal desig- Records of the Copenhagen meetings and nation which constitutes the scientific name Prof. J. Chester Bradley, President of the of a species. The wisdom of this rechristening International Commlission was invited to of the species name may well be debated. prepare the first draft of the revised rules. There is no classic Latin word binomen, but These rules have not yet (Jan. 15, 1956) been the adjective binomini.sis defined as "having published, so they are not available in final two names". One is puzzled to find that the form. name of a species has two names. The meaning of the revised rules: may be Specific name. The Paris (1948) Zoological gleaned from the publications noted above, Congress defined "specific name" as the but the pertinent statements are scattered scientific name of a species. The Copen- tlirough fifteen hundred pages or more. For- hagen (1953) Congress as noted above re- tunately, Dr. W. I. Follett, of the California placed the phrase "specific name" by Academy of Science, has prepared, and the "binomen". It then redefined "specific name" Society of Systematic Zoology in the United as the "name" that distinguishes a "nominal States of America has printed and distributed species" from the other species of that a most helpful brochure. Because of the "nominal" genus. In other words, a specific name is the designation of the second com- *) This article is reproduced from the ponent of the name of a species. The term International Bulletin of Bacteriological used for this in bacteriology and botany is Nomenclature and Taxonomy 6(1):43-46. specific epithet. The terms specific name 15 Jan. 1956. and species name are not synonymous in 35

This content downloaded from 212.238.114.212 on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 08:59:50 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions zoology as they are in bacteriology. Most nominal genus is a particular genus which specific epithets (specific names in zoology) has been characterized and to which a are adjectives: there is some element of distinctive name has been given. Experience anomaly in terming a descriptive adjective has shown that when used in the rules and such as "aureus" a name. There is merit in recommendations of a code the two related the appellation of "epithet". but distinct usages of the word genus should Trivial name. The designation of the be distinguished. This distinction will be second component of the name of a species made in the Zoological Rules when published. was fixed by the Paris Zoological Congress Similarly, species is the name given to a as the "trivial name". This was discarded by taxon of a definite rank; a nominal species the Copenhagen Congress and replaced by is one which has been defined and named. "specific name". The term "trivial name" in Homonym. A homonym is defined as the zoology is a synonym of "specific epithet" in same name applied to two or more different bacteriology. This lack of uniformity in units of the same taxonromic category (genus terminology, the use of the same term with or species); the name of each is a homonym different meanings in the several branches of the other. When two nominal species are of biology, is most confusing and unfortunate. given the same name (binomen) in the same Apparently there has been no effort among original publication, the binomina (species the several branches of biology to cooperate names) are primary homonyms. When two in eliminating discordant terminology. nominal species, at the time of the public- Trinomen is the designation of the name ation of their respective names, are placed of a subspecies, consisting of the name of in different nominal genera and are given the genus followed by the "specific name" the same specific name (specific epithet), and (specific epithet) and this in turn by the are subsequently placed in the same nominal "subspecific name" (subspecific epithet). The genus, each binomen (species name) is a corresponding term in bacteriology is sub- secondary homonym of the other. specific or subspecies name. Clearly many of the definitions and new Subspecies is defined as a population (e.g., tcrminologies to be included in the revised geographic or ecological) within a species Zoological Rules may well be considered in that is to be distinguished from any other revision and interpretation of the rules and such population within the same species. recommendations of the Bacteriological Code. Opinion and declaration are distinguished. One may, however, hesitate to accept the An opinion is a decision by the Commission dictum that an adjective (albus, achrous) or having to do with the status of a name or a noun in the genitive (enteriditis, suis) which book. A declaration is a decision by the appears as the second component of the Commission which interprets a rule. In the name of a (nominal) species is to be regarded Bacteriological Code both are included in as a name, as in the expression "specific "Opinions". name" approved for use in zoology. There Infrasubspecific form. A term used to are some manifest advantages in the con- designate any form (subdivision) of a species, tinued use by bacteriologists of the gram- other than a subspecies, such as seasonal, matically correct phrase, specific epithet. sexual and transitional forms, aberrations and One may note some inaccuracies in the minority elements of all kinds within a statements to be included in the revised species. In spite of its length, infrasubspecific Zoological Rules. In an appendix termed the may be useful as an over-all term to include "Second Schedule" there is given a table in bacteriology the subdivisions of species which "indicates the manner in which Greek such as serotype, strain, stage, group, phase, words should be transliterated". The table and others. includes several errors. In most cases there Nominal. The Zoological Rules recognize is no exact transliteration of the Greek word the use of the term genus in two senses. In used as an illustration. As an example of an a general sense genus is the name applied error, the Latin equivalent of the Greek to that taxon made up of related species, it omega (co) is given as oe. It should be long designates a definite taxonomic category. A o (o).

This content downloaded from 212.238.114.212 on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 08:59:50 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions