Introduction to Scientific Nomenclature Hendrik Segers Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences

1. Introduction toScientific NomenclatureHendrik SegersRoyal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences Hue University, Vietnam January 2009

2. What nomenclature? A set of mandatoryrules and voluntaryrecommendations that determine the structure and formation of names of organisms, for use in scientific communication.

3. Why nomenclature? Fundamental aim of nomenclature: avoid a Tower of Babel “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) Need for universal codes!

4. 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

5. The ICZN

6. 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 rules 1901 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 Nomenclature 1964 Second edition 1985 Third edition 1988 Launch of fourth edition project 1995 Draft of fourth edition released by Secretariat 1999Fourth edition (current edition) Takes effect from 1 January 2000 • Discussion on registration of names re-opened; “zoobank”, Launch of fifth edition project

7. Why do names change? Increased scientific understanding (e.g., discoveries; changes in species concept (s.l.) and phylogenetic understanding) Correct application of nomenclatural codes (e.g., correction of errors; homonyms;…)

8. Why do names change? All changes are governed by legalistic, scientifically neutral conventions: the codes of nomenclature E.g.: the ICZN consists of: Preamble 90 Articles, grouped in 18 chapters One or more mandatory provisions Non-mandatory recommendations Examples Glossary Increased scientific understanding (e.g., discoveries; changes in species concept (s.l.) and phylogenetic understanding) Correct application of nomenclatural codes (e.g., correction of errors; homonyms;…)

9. Ruling principles • Nomenclature = naming tool Nomenclature only follows taxonomy Tool Science

10. Ruling principles • Nomenclature = naming tool • Typification The taxonomic identity of a name is determined by that of its type

11. Principle of Typification 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 group 61.1.3. 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

12. 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 type Hapantotype: (special case) Lectotype: a syntype designated as the single-name bearing type specimen Paralectotypes: 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)

13. How does it work? Syntypes Type localities Species B New Species A

14. How does it work? Holotype + Paratypes Type locality Species B New Species A

15. How does it work? Lectotype + paralectotype Type localities Species B Species A

16. How does it work? Lectotype + paralectotype Type localities Species A Species B

17. Principle of Typification Terms not regulated by the Codes Allotype: a designated specimen of opposite sex of the holotype Cotype: a term formerly used for either syntype or paratype Genotype: 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

18. Ruling principles • Nomenclature = naming tool • Typification • Principle of Synonymy 1 taxon should only have 1 valid name

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

20. 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) ?

21. 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)

22. … andHomonyms • 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)?

23. Ruling principles • Nomenclature = naming tool • Typification • Principle of Synonymy • Principle of Homonymy • Principle of Priority “the oldest fool is always right”

24. Synonyms… • Lecane ludwigii (Eckstein, 1883) or • Lecane stokesi (Pell, 1890) or • Lecane ohioensis (Herrick, 1885) ? « Oldest fool »: Lecane ludwigii (Eckstein, 1883)

25. … andHomonyms 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

26. … andHomonyms • 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

27. Principle of Priority Can Cause Problems ! The Commission can intervene (nomina rejicienda, conservanda)

28. 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

29. What’s in a name? new combination: Lecane closterocerca (Schmarda, 1853) Edmondson, 1935 Monostyla closterocerca Schmarda, 1853 With subgenus name:Lecane (Monostyla) closterocerca (Schmarda, 1853) Edmondson, 1935 Short: Lecane (M.) closterocerca (Shmarda, 1853) Or: L. closterocerca With subspecies name: trinomenLecane (Monostyla) closterocercaamazonica Koste, 1972 Or:L. closterocerca amazonica

30. 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

31. Formation of Scientific Names • Formation of species names: • After features: adjectives e.g.: • Lepadella minuta • Scaridium grande • S. longicaudum • Brachionus bidentatus • Keratella taurocephala

32. Formation of Scientific Names • 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.

33. Formation of Scientific Names • Formation of species names: • After features: adjectives • After other species: noun in apposition, adjective • After people: noun in genitive case one man: Trichodorus borgoniei one woman: T. catharinae several man/woman: L. gallagherorum several woman: stem + arum

34. Formation of Scientific Names • 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

35. Formation of Scientific Names • 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; • (ñbecomes n, ø becomes o, …) But - Zygiella x-notata

36. Formal requirements in ICZN (1) • Name or nomenclatural act must be Published;

37. Formal requirements in ICZN (1) • Name or nomenclatural act must be Published; • Scientific names must be spelled using the 26 letters of the Latin Alphabet;

38. Formal requirements in ICZN (1) • 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!

39. Tortricidae (Moths, Northern Mexico: (Kearfott, 1907) Eucosma fandana Eucosma gandana Eucosma handana Eucosma landana Eucosma mandana Eucosma nandana Eucosma pandana Eucosma sandanaEucosma wandana But also: Cydia candana Epiblema tandana Epinotia xandana Epinotia zandanaPelochrista randana Pelochrista vandana Some examples: One-letter difference…

40. More examples…. 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),…

41. Even 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.

42. Formal requirements in ICZN (2) • 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

43. The different codes: a comparison • 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)

44. The different codes: a comparison • The codes have different starting dates and works • The codes are independent =>inter-code homonyms are possible, allowed, and common • Lactarius nonfungusNolf & Bajpai 1992: fish • Lactarius nonpiscisVerbeken 1996: fungus

45. Botanical genus names homonyms 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 Inter-Code Generic homonyms

46. Examples of genus + species homonoms: • Poria cocos: Coleoptera and Fungus; • Pieris japonica: butterfly and plant; • Culcita novaeguineae: seastar, and Culcita novae-guineae: fern

47. The different codes: a comparison • 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

48. The different codes: a comparison • Principle of co-ordination • Tautonyms (Bison bison, Glis glis, Mops mops...) allowed in zoology;

49. The different codes: a comparison • Principle of co-ordination • Tautonyms • Latin diagnosis required in botanical nomenclature

50. The different codes: a comparison • Principle of co-ordination • Tautonyms • Latin diagnosis • Application & different standardised endings