segers introduction to scientific nomenclature

Introduction toScientific Nomenclature

Hendrik SegersRoyal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences

Hue University, Vietnam

January 2009

What nomenclature?

A set of mandatory rules and voluntary recommendations that determine the structure and formation of names of organisms, for use in scientific communication.

“The objects of the Code are to promote stability and universability in the scientific names of animals and to ensure that the name of each taxon is unique and distinct. All its provisions and recommendations are subservient to those ends and none restricts the freedom of taxonomic thought or actions” (ICZN 1999:2)

Fundamental aim of nomenclature: avoid a Tower of Babel

Why nomenclature?

Need for universal codes!

Nomenclature codes• McNeill., et al. (eds), 2006. International Code of Botanical

Nomenclature (Vienna Code). Regnum Vegetabile 146. A.R.G. Gantner Verlag KG. ISBN 0080-0694

• Trehane, P., et al. (eds). 1995. International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. Adapted by the International Committee for the Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants of the I.U.B.S. Regn. Veget. 133.

• Sneath, P.H.A., et al. (eds), 1992. International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria. Washington (+ : Skerman, V.D.B. et al., 1980. Approved Lists of Bacterial Names).

• International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 1999. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, 4th edition. Adopted by the I.U.B.S. The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, London

The ICZN

History of zoological nomenclature

1758 Formal starting point = 10th Edition of Linnaeus’s Systema Naturae (also Clerck’s Aranei Svecici)

1842 Strickland Code (botany and zoology)1889 First ICZ meeting (Paris); tentative adoption of a set of rules1901 Fifth ICZ meeting (Berlin); “Rules of Zoological Nomenclature”;

published as Règles Internationales de la Nomenclature Zoologique (French, English & German)

1961 First edition of the Code of Zoological Nomenclature1964 Second edition 1985 Third edition 1988 Launch of fourth edition project1995 Draft of fourth edition released by Secretariat1999 Fourth edition (current edition)

Takes effect from 1 January 2000

2005 Discussion on registration of names re-opened; “zoobank”, Launch of fifth edition project

Correct application of nomenclatural codes(e.g., correction of errors; homonyms;…)

Increased scientific understanding (e.g., discoveries; changes in species concept (s.l.) and phylogenetic understanding)

Why do names change?

Correct application of nomenclatural codes(e.g., correction of errors; homonyms;…)

Increased scientific understanding (e.g., discoveries; changes in species concept (s.l.) and phylogenetic understanding)

Why do names change?

All changes are governed by legalistic, scientifically neutral conventions: the codes of nomenclature

E.g.: the ICZN consists of:Preamble90 Articles, grouped in 18 chapters

One or more mandatory provisionsNon-mandatory recommendationsExamples

Glossary

Ruling principles

• Nomenclature = naming tool

Nomenclature only follows taxonomy

Tool Science

Ruling principles

• Nomenclature = naming tool

• Typification

The taxonomic identity of a name is determined by that of its type

Art. 61.1. Each nominal taxon in the family, genus or species groups has actually or potentially a name-bearing type. The fixation of the name bearing type of a nominal taxon provides the objective standard of reference for the application of the name it bears.

61.1.1. The valid name from a taxon is determined only from the name-bearing type(s)61.1.2. Objectivity through typification is continuous through the hierarchy of names, from species to family group61.1.3. Name-bearing types (generally) are stable and provide objective continuity in the application of names

(ICZN)

=> Identity of a name relies only on its type, not on its description or diagnosis

Principle of Typification

Types of name-bearing types (in the species group)

Original designation(Fixed in the original publication)

Subsequent designation(Not fixed in the original publication)

Holotype: the single specimen upon which a new species-group taxon is based in the original publication (see also isotype)Paratypes: remaining specimens of the original type series (see also allotype)Syntypes: specimens of a type series that collectively constitute the name-bearing typeHapantotype: (special case)

Lectotype: a syntype designated as the single-name bearing type specimenParalectotypes: each specimen of the former syntype series remaining after lectotype designation (see also isolectotype)Neotype: the single specimen designated as the name-bearing type when no name-bearing type specimen is believed to exist (anymore)


How does it work?

SyntypesType localities New Species A

Species B

How does it work?

Holotype + ParatypesType locality New Species A

Species B

How does it work?

Lectotype + paralectotypeType localities Species A

Species B

Terms not regulated by the Codes

Allotype: a designated specimen of opposite sex of the holotypeCotype: a term formerly used for either syntype or paratypeGenotype: a term formerly used to designate the type species of a genus (generotype)Topotype: a specimen originating from the type locality or localities of the species or subspecies to which it is thought to belong, whether or not the specimen is part of the type series (see also topotypical specimen)

Some peculiar cases: Cleptotype, Iconotype, …

Type of a family name = genus Type of a genus = species


Ruling principles

• Nomenclature = naming tool• Typification

• Principle of Synonymy

1 taxon should only have 1 valid name

Synonyms…

• Synonyms: 2 or more names = 1 taxon– Nomenclatural (= objective, homotypic) synonyms– Taxonomic (= subjective, heterotypic) synonyms

Synonyms…

• Synonyms: 2 or more names = 1 taxon– Nomenclatural (= objective, homotypic) synonyms– Taxonomic (= subjective, heterotypic) synonyms

• Lecane ludwigii (Eckstein, 1883) or• Lecane stokesi (Pell, 1890) or• Lecane ohioensis (Herrick, 1885) ?

Ruling principles

• Nomenclature = naming tool• Typification• Principle of Synonymy

• Principle of Homonymy

1 name can apply to only 1 taxon (but see independance of codes)

… and Homonyms

• Lecane ornata (Harring & Myers, 1926) • Lecane ornata (Daday, 1897)

(syn. of L. ludwigii (Eckstein, 1883))

Problem: name for L. ornata (Harring & Myers, 1926) non (Daday, 1897)?

Ruling principles

• Nomenclature = naming tool• Typification• Principle of Synonymy• Principle of Homonymy

• Principle of Priority

“the oldest fool is always right”

Synonyms…

« Oldest fool »:Lecane ludwigii (Eckstein, 1883)

• Lecane ludwigii (Eckstein, 1883) or• Lecane stokesi (Pell, 1890) or• Lecane ohioensis (Herrick, 1885) ?

… and Homonyms

Argus Bohadsch, 1761(gastropod); Argus Scopoli, 1763 (butterfly); Argus Scopoli, 1777 (butterfly); Argus Poli, 1791 (mollusk); Argus Temminck, 1807 (bird);

Argus Lamarck, 1817 (hesperid); Argus Boisduval, 1832 (lycaenid); Argus Walckenaer, 1836 (arachnid); Argus Gray, 1847(mollusk); Argus Gerhard, 1850 (lycaenid))

Principle of Priority:

Argus Bohadsch, 1761 is the only valid name

… and Homonyms

• Lecane ornata (Harring & Myers, 1926) • Lecane ornata (Daday, 1897)

(syn. of L. ludwigii (Eckstein, 1883))

Problem: name for L. ornata (Harring & Myers, 1926) non (Daday, 1897)?

No “Oldest fool” available! Nomen novum required:

Lecane myersi

Principle of Priority

Can Cause Problems !

The Commission can intervene(nomina rejicienda, conservanda)

Ruling principles

• Nomenclature = naming tool• Typification• Principle of Synonymy• Principle of Homonymy• Principle of Priority

• Principle of binominal nomenclature

• Names of taxa above species: uninominal: e.g., Hominidae, Homo

• Names of species: binominal: e.g., Homo sapiens

Monostyla closterocerca Schmarda, 1853

What’s in a name?

With subgenus name:Lecane (Monostyla) closterocerca (Schmarda, 1853) Edmondson, 1935

Short: Lecane (M.) closterocerca (Shmarda, 1853) Or: L. closterocerca

new combination: Lecane closterocerca (Schmarda, 1853) Edmondson, 1935

With subspecies name: trinomenLecane (Monostyla) closterocerca amazonica Koste, 1972

Or: L. closterocerca amazonica

Scientific Names are Latin

Rules of Latin grammar apply

Agreement in gender

• Mastigocerca capucina Wierzejski & Zacharias, 1893• Rattulus capucinus : Jennings, 1903• Trichocerca capucina (Wierzejski & Zacharias, 1893) Harring, 1913

Formation of Scientific Names

• Formation of species names:- After features: adjectivese.g.:

- Lepadella minuta - Scaridium grande- S. longicaudum- Brachionus bidentatus- Keratella taurocephala


• Formation of species names:- After features: adjectives

- After other species: noun in apposition, adjective

e.g., Trichocerca tigris, T. rattus, T. cavia, T. mus, T. musculus, T. porcellus, T. orca.also: Seison nebaliae.


• Formation of species names:- After features: adjectives- After other species: noun in apposition, adjective

- After people: noun in genitive caseone man: Trichodorus borgoniei one woman: T. catharinaeseveral man/woman: L. gallagherorumseveral woman: stem + arum


• Formation of species names:- After features: adjectives- After other species: noun in apposition, adjective- After people: noun in genitive case

- After places: adjectival toponym e.g., Trichodorus lusitanicus Paratrichodorus delhiensis


• Formation of species names:no diacritic or other marks, ligature, apostrophes,

etc…:- Trichocerca dixon-nutalli becomes T. dixonnutalli;- Dicranophorus lütkeni becomes D. luetkeni;- Filinia novaezaelandiae; - (ñ becomes n, ø becomes o, …)But- Zygiella x-notata

Formal requirements in ICZN (1)

• Name or nomenclatural act must be Published;


• Name or nomenclatural act must be Published;• Scientific names must be spelled using the 26

letters of the Latin Alphabet;


• Name or nomenclatural act must be Published;• Scientific names must be spelled using the 26 letters

of the Latin Alphabet;• Derivation: a name may be derived from any

language, or even an arbitrary combination of letters if this is formed to be used as a word (not cbafdg);

=> lots of freedom allowed!

Some examples:One-letter difference…

Eucosma fandanaEucosma gandana Eucosma handana Eucosma landanaEucosma mandana Eucosma nandana Eucosma pandanaEucosma sandana Eucosma wandana

But also:

Cydia candana Epiblema tandanaEpinotia xandana Epinotia zandana

Pelochrista randanaPelochrista vandana

Tortricidae (Moths, Northern Mexico: (Kearfott, 1907)

Fun with Latin: • Stupidogobius Aurich, 1938 (stupid fish)

Localities:• Panama canalia Marsh, 1993 (braconid) • Belgica antarctica (chironomid)• Mexico (beetle and virus)• Texas (pentatomid and virus)• Neotiglossa (Texas) californica Bliven, 1958

Mythology: • Zeus Linnaeus, 1758 (fish)• Kali Lloyd, 1909 (fish)• Satan Hubbs & Bailey, 1947 (fish),…

More examples….

Not another one…• Cyclocephala nodanotherwon Ratcliffe (scarabid) • Ochisme, Polychisme, Dolichisme, Peggichisme Kirkaldi, 1904• Iyaiyai Evenhuis, 1994• Agra vation Erwin, 1983 • Notnops, Taintnops, and Tisentnops Platnick, 1994 (spiders

originally in genus Nops MacLeay, 1839

Persons (“honorifics”):• Cartwrightia cartwrighti Cartwright, 1967 (scarab)• Hoia hoi (parasitic copepod), after Ju-Shey Ho• Leonardo davincii Bleszynski, 1965 (pyralid butterfly)

But also (“horrorifics”): • Dyaria Neumoegen, 1893 (liparid butterfly) after Mr. Dyar.

Even more examples….


• New requirements for species-group names published after 1999:– Explicit indication of name as intentionally new

(n. sp., gen. nov., nom. nov.,…) – Fixation of name-bearing types explicit

designation & deposition

The different codes: a comparison

1) The codes have different starting dates and works

• Botanical : Species Plantarum : Linnaeus, 1753.• Zoological : Systema Naturae : Linnaeus, 1758; Araneae

swecici Clerck, 1757,…• Bacteriologial : January 1, 1980 (older names only when

included in list of approved names)

1) The codes have different starting dates and works

2) The codes are independent => inter-code homonyms are possible, allowed,

and common


• Lactarius nonfungus Nolf & Bajpai 1992: fish• Lactarius nonpiscis Verbeken 1996: fungus

Inter-Code Generic homonyms Botanical

genus nameshomonyms in Zool. record

Total 64,419 8,784 (13.6%)

in common use

28,041 3,554 (12.7%)

Bacteriological genus names

Homonyms in Zool. Record

Homonyms in ING (Botanical)

Homonyms in both

Total 739 50 (6.8%) 29 (3.9%) 15

in common use

701 48 (6.9%) 27 (3.9%) 14

• Poria cocos: Coleoptera and Fungus;• Pieris japonica: butterfly and plant;• Culcita novaeguineae: seastar, and Culcita novae-guineae: fern

Examples of genus + species homonoms:

• Principle of co-ordination:

Names established at any rank within the F/G/S groups are deemed established at any rank within the group

– Family-group: Super-,Family, sub-, Tribus, sub-– Genus-group: Genus, sub-– Species-group: Species, sub-

Zoology only


• Principle of co-ordination • Tautonyms

(Bison bison, Glis glis, Mops mops...)

allowed in zoology;


• Principle of co-ordination • Tautonyms• Latin diagnosis

required in botanical nomenclature


• Principle of co-ordination • Tautonyms • Latin diagnosis • Application & different standardised

endings


Table 2: Standardized endings for names of taxa

Rank :

Zoological Botanical Bacteriological

phylum/divisio * - phyta/-mycota1

classis * - opsida/-mycetes1/ -phyceae²

subclassis * - idea/-mycetidae1/-phycidae2

superordo * - anae

ordo * - ales - ales

subordo * - ineae - ineae

superfamily - oidea (not used) (not used)

family - idae - aceae - aceae

subfamily - inae - oideae - oideae

tribus - ini - eae - eae

subtribus - ina - inae - inae

1: for fungi; ²: for algae

Interesting websites• International Code of Botanical Nomenclature :

http://ibot.sav.sk/icbn/main.htm• International Commission and Code on Zoological Nomenclature :

http://www.iczn.org• Nomenclator Zoologicus (347,000 zoological genus- and subgenus

names from 1758 to 1994: http://www.ubio.org/NomenclatorZoologicus

• GBIF (www.gbif.org), Catalogue of Life (www.catalogueoflife.org), Zoobank (www.zoobank.org), Universal Biological Indexer and Organizer (uBio: www.uBio.org),

• ERMS, WoRMS, Fishbase, FaunaEuropaea (www.faunaeur.org), • Encyclopedia of Life, Speciesbase,……• Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG: www.tdwg.org)• BioNET International (http://www.bionet-intl.org/opencms/opencms/index1.jsp)• Global Taxonomy Initiative (http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/cross-cutting/taxonomy/)

Games with letters/statistics:• Aa Baker, 1940 (mollusk)• Aaadonta Solem, 1976 (endodontoid slug) • Cavaticovelia aaa Gagne, 1975 (Hawaiian bug) • Aragara Walker, 1860 (fly; longest palindrome)• Ia io Thomas, 1902 (bat; shortest binomen) • Gammaracanthuskytodermogammarus loricatobaicalensis Dybowski,

1926 (amphipod; the longest binomen)• Zyzzyxdonta Solem, 1976 (endodontoid slug,

with opposite features of Aaadonta) • Zyzzyzus Stechow, 1921 (Coelenterata)

… and many, many more: http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~heraty/menke.htmlhttp://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html

Did I mention these ones?

Thank you for your attention

segers introduction to scientific nomenclature

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