327:
next available junior synonym must be used for the taxon. For other purposes, if a researcher is interested in consulting or compiling all currently known information regarding a taxon, some of this (including species descriptions, distribution, ecology and more) may well have been published under names now regarded as outdated (i.e., synonyms) and so it is again useful to know a list of historic synonyms which may have been used for a given current (valid) taxon name.
229:
change may be due to purely nomenclatural reasons, that is, based on the rules of nomenclature; as for example when an older name is (re)discovered which has priority over the current name. Speaking in general, name changes for nomenclatural reasons have become less frequent over time as the rules of nomenclature allow for names to be conserved, so as to promote stability of scientific names.
25:
165:). A synonym cannot exist in isolation: it is always an alternative to a different scientific name. Given that the correct name of a taxon depends on the taxonomic viewpoint used (resulting in a particular circumscription, position and rank) a name that is one taxonomist's synonym may be another taxonomist's correct name (and
718:. Thus, it could be said that Verbenaceae pro parte is a synonym of Acanthaceae, and Verbenaceae pro parte is also a synonym of Lamiaceae. However, this terminology is rarely used because it is clearer to reserve the term "pro parte" for situations that divide a taxon that includes the type from one that does not.
115:
In zoology, moving a species from one genus to another results in a different binomen, but the name is considered an alternative combination rather than a synonym. The concept of synonymy in zoology is reserved for two names at the same rank that refers to a taxon at that rank – for example, the name
603:
In botany, although a synonym must be a formally accepted scientific name (a validly published name): a listing of "synonyms", a "synonymy", often contains designations that for some reason did not make it as a formal name, such as manuscript names, or even misidentifications (although it is now the
413:
At the species level, subjective synonyms are common because of an unexpectedly large range of variation in a species, or simple ignorance about an earlier description, may lead a biologist to describe a newly discovered specimen as a new species. A common reason for objective synonyms at this level
208:
defines the term as "a taxonomic name which has the same application as another, especially one which has been superseded and is no longer valid". In handbooks and general texts, it is useful to have synonyms mentioned as such after the current scientific name, so as to avoid confusion. For example,
172:
Synonyms may arise whenever the same taxon is described and named more than once, independently. They may also arise when existing taxa are changed, as when two taxa are joined to become one, a species is moved to a different genus, a variety is moved to a different species, etc. Synonyms also come
326:
and therefore, unless other restrictions interfere, must be used for the taxon. However, junior synonyms are still important to document, because if the earliest name cannot be used (for example, because the same spelling had previously been used for a name established for another taxon), then the
203:
To the general user of scientific names, in fields such as agriculture, horticulture, ecology, general science, etc., a synonym is a name that was previously used as the correct scientific name (in handbooks and similar sources) but which has been displaced by another scientific name, which is now
228:
Changes of scientific name have two causes: they may be taxonomic or nomenclatural. A name change may be caused by changes in the circumscription, position or rank of a taxon, representing a change in taxonomic, scientific insight (as would be the case for the fruit fly, mentioned above). A name
379:
Objective synonyms are common at the rank of genera, because for various reasons two genera may contain the same type species; these are objective synonyms. In many cases researchers established new generic names because they thought this was necessary or did not know that others had previously
626:
If the name of a species changes solely on account of its allocation to a new genus ("new combinations"), in botany this is regarded as creating a synonym in the case of the original or previous combination but not in zoology (where the fundamental nomenclatural unit is regarded as the species
352:, there is no such shared type, so the synonymy is open to taxonomic judgement, meaning that there is room for debate: one researcher might consider the two (or more) types to refer to one and the same taxon, another might consider them to belong to different taxa. For example,
612:
Although the basic principles are fairly similar, the treatment of synonyms in botanical nomenclature differs in detail and terminology from zoological nomenclature, where the correct name is included among synonyms, although as first among equals it is the "senior synonym":
516:
of the taxon as considered in the particular botanical publication. It is always "a synonym of the correct scientific name", but which name is correct depends on the taxonomic opinion of the author. In botany the various kinds of synonyms are:
430:. This rule exists primarily to prevent the confusion that would result if a well-known name, with a large accompanying body of literature, were to be replaced by a completely unfamiliar name. An example is the European land snail
594:
into many, quite restricted species. The name of each such species has its own type. When the common dandelion is regarded as including all those small species, the names of all those species are heterotypic synonyms of
1126:
McNeill, J.; Barrie, F.R.; Buck, W.R.; Demoulin, V.; Greuter, W.; Hawksworth, D.L.; Herendeen, P.S.; Knapp, S.; Marhold, K.; Prado, J.; Prud'homme Van Reine, W.F.; Smith, G.F.; Wiersema, J.H.; Turland, N.J. (2012),
627:
epithet, not the binomen, and this has generally not changed). Nevertheless, in popular usage, previous or alternative/non current combinations are frequently listed as synonyms in zoology as well as in botany.
417:
A junior synonym can be given precedence over a senior synonym, primarily when the senior name has not been used since 1899, and the junior name is in common use. The older name may be declared to be a
490:
To qualify as a synonym in zoology, a name must be properly published in accordance with the rules. Manuscript names and names that were mentioned without any description (
274:
157:
a synonym is not interchangeable with the name of which it is a synonym. In taxonomy, synonyms are not equals, but have a different status. For any taxon with a particular
1130:
International Code of
Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code) adopted by the Eighteenth International Botanical Congress Melbourne, Australia, July 2011
964:
161:, position, and rank, only one scientific name is considered to be the correct one at any given time (this correct name is to be determined by applying the relevant
265:
names published for it, while the same is applicable at higher ranks such as genera, families, orders, etc. In each case, the earliest published name is called the
221:)". Synonyms used in this way may not always meet the strict definitions of the term "synonym" in the formal rules of nomenclature which govern scientific names
939:
Falkner, G., Ripken, T. E. J. & Falkner, M. 2002. Mollusques continentaux de France. Liste de référence annotée et bibliographie. – pp. , 1–350, . Paris.
337:
and same rank (more or less the same taxon, although circumscription may vary, even widely). This may be species-group taxa of the same rank with the same
1037:
456:
663:(or "for part") synonyms. These are caused by splits and circumscriptional changes. They are usually indicated by the abbreviation "p.p." For example:
568:. A homotypic synonym need not share an epithet or name with the correct name; what matters is that it shares the type. For example, the name
249:
102:
was the first to give a scientific name (under the currently used system of scientific nomenclature) to the Norway spruce, which he called
918:
p. 43 in Beck, H. 1837. Index molluscorum præsentis ævi musei principis augustissimi
Christiani Frederici. – pp. 1–100 , 101–124 . Hafniæ.
1128:
273:. In the case where two names for the same taxon have been published simultaneously, the valid name is selected accorded to the
384:
Beck, 1837, which was established for a group of terrestrial snails containing as its type species the
Burgundy or Roman snail
808:
1138:
1111:
1078:
981:
364:, based on a pair of horns. However, it is now commonly accepted that his specimen was an unusual individual of the species
437:
636:
Scientific papers may include lists of taxa, synonymizing existing taxa and (in some cases) listing references to them.
301:
becoming the junior synonym. (Incidentally, this species has since been reclassified and currently resides in the genus
65:
1177:
463:. The two are related, with only one word difference between their names.) For example, the scientific name of the
459:(ICZN) approves an application. (Here the C in ICZN stands for Commission, not Code as it does at the beginning of
1167:
455:
Such a reversal of precedence is also possible if the senior synonym was established after 1900, but only if the
345:
or if their type species are themselves objective synonyms, of family-group taxa with the same type genus, etc.
1087:
Dubois, A. (2000), "Synonymies and related lists in zoology: general proposals, with examples in herpetology",
444:
Draparnaud, 1801 referred to the same species, but this name had never been used after 1899 and was fixed as a
1006:
733:
1172:
173:
about when the codes of nomenclature change, so that older names are no longer acceptable; for example,
861:
697:
509:
158:
639:
The status of a synonym may be indicated by symbols, as for instance in a system proposed for use in
738:
620:
The homotypic or nomenclatural synonyms in botany are equivalent to "objective synonyms" in zoology.
599:
F.H.Wigg. Reducing a taxon to a heterotypic synonym is termed "to sink in synonymy" or "as synonym".
623:
The heterotypic or taxonomic synonyms in botany are equivalent to "subjective synonyms" in zoology.
43:
972:
315:
210:
47:
548:
is taken to be the correct genus for this species (there is almost complete consensus on that),
751:
505:
78:
The
Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently.
587:
464:
91:
1067:
323:
591:
238:
8:
838:
659:
The traditional concept of synonymy is often expanded in taxonomic literature to include
586:, or taxonomic, synonyms (sometimes indicated by =) have different types. Some botanists
35:
1101:
647:
before the year would indicate that the authors have inspected the original material; a
106:. This name is no longer in use, so it is now a synonym of the current scientific name,
1029:
746:
673:
162:
154:
1144:
704:"are much reduced compared to a decade or so ago, and many genera have been placed in
1134:
1107:
1074:
681:
Stokes (1787) pro parte as a synonym, but explicitly excluded the type (specimen) of
668:
432:
262:
209:
if the much-advertised name change should go through and the scientific name of the
1021:
856:
816:
471:
was published by Buren in 1972, who did not know that this species was first named
353:
380:
established another genus for the same group of species. An example is the genus
217:, it would be very helpful if any mention of this name was accompanied by "(syn.
533:
529:
513:
338:
334:
319:
254:
183:
1161:
847:
426:
420:
386:
286:
178:
130:, being names for different seasonal forms of the species now referred to as
99:
475:
by
Santschi in 1916; as there were thousands of publications using the name
651:
that they take on the responsibility for the act of synonymizing the taxa.
640:
342:
303:
261:. For example, a particular species could, over time, have had two or more
188:
83:
715:
701:
492:
289:
in the same work at the same date for the taxon now determined to be the
108:
1033:
525:
369:
244:
1106:(4th ed.), The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature,
728:
710:
705:
479:
before anyone discovered the synonymy, the ICZN, in 2001, ruled that
361:
290:
1025:
617:
Synonyms in botany are equivalent to "junior synonyms" in zoology.
150:
402:
was an objective synonym (and useless). On the same occasion,
1133:, vol. Regnum Vegetabile 154, A.R.G. Gantner Verlag KG,
496:) are not considered as synonyms in zoological nomenclature.
258:
98:
that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example,
95:
1100:
International
Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1999),
714:, which was once included in Verbenaceae has been moved to
322:) name, the senior synonym, by default takes precedence in
607:
604:
usual practice to list misidentifications separately).
556:. However, if the species were considered to belong to
440:, 1805). In 2002, researchers found that an older name
145:
in the taxonomic sense employed by the
Zoological code.
836:
700:'s summary of plant classification states that family
560:(now unlikely) the relationship would be reversed and
253:, synonyms are different scientific names of the same
524:, or nomenclatural, synonyms (sometimes indicated by
457:
International
Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
318:is that the earliest correctly published (and thus
1066:
862:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22689055A205475036.en
508:, a synonym is a name that is not correct for the
341:, genus-group taxa of the same rank with the same
1159:
572:for a species of dandelion has the same type as
372:in 1815. Ord's name thus takes precedence, with
965:"Notes on open nomenclature and synonymy lists"
962:
1007:"The concept of "potential taxa" in databases"
1103:International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
250:International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
956:
410:, but it is older and so it has precedence.
46:. There might be a discussion about this on
16:Scientific name that also applies to a taxon
1064:
394:was already the type species for the genus
1004:
297:has been selected as the valid name, with
860:
66:Learn how and when to remove this message
576:L. The latter is a homotypic synonym of
414:is the creation of a replacement name.
1160:
1086:
764:
608:Comparison between zoology and botany
277:such that, for example, of the names
942:
930:, Art. 23.9 "reversal of precedence"
643:by Rudolf Richter. In that system a
564:would become a homotypic synonym of
18:
1069:Taxonomy: A text and reference book
848:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
830:
376:being a junior subjective synonym.
13:
314:One basic principle of zoological
14:
1189:
775:, "Glossary", entry for "synonym"
424:, and the junior name declared a
631:
198:
23:
1058:
1043:from the original on 2016-09-10
998:
933:
921:
837:BirdLife International (2021).
483:would be given precedence over
912:
900:
888:
876:
801:
787:
778:
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275:principle of the first reviser
269:, while the later name is the
247:nomenclature, codified in the
137:, the map butterfly. However,
1:
757:
734:Glossary of scientific naming
473:Solenopsis saevissima wagneri
460:
333:refer to taxa with the same
7:
722:
448:under this rule by Falkner
10:
1194:
1065:Blackwelder, R.A. (1967),
1005:Berendsohn, W. G. (1995),
813:Oxford Dictionaries Online
698:Angiosperm Phylogeny Group
552:is a homotypic synonym of
398:Linnaeus, 1758, the genus
285:(Aves), both published by
257:that pertain to that same
236:
232:
206:Oxford Dictionaries Online
204:regarded as correct. Thus
1099:
980:: 713–719, archived from
855:: e.T22689055A205475036.
499:
360:in 1855 for a species of
195:and is thus its synonym.
1125:
963:Matthews, S. C. (1973),
948:
793:
770:
540:L. has the same type as
532:(specimen) and the same
1178:Zoological nomenclature
219:Drosophila melanogaster
215:Sophophora melanogaster
123:is a junior synonym of
1168:Botanical nomenclature
752:Superseded combination
743: – a case history
506:botanical nomenclature
153:in other contexts, in
84:botanical nomenclature
685:from the new species
465:red imported fire ant
406:is also a synonym of
374:Antilocapra anteflexa
366:Antilocapra americana
358:Antilocapra anteflexa
237:Further information:
953:, Recommendation 50D
597:Taraxacum officinale
578:Taraxacum officinale
570:Taraxacum officinale
536:. The Linnaean name
239:Valid name (zoology)
163:code of nomenclature
141:is not a synonym of
36:confusing or unclear
1073:, New York: Wiley,
574:Leontodon taraxacum
544:(L.) H.Karst. When
356:published the name
350:subjective synonyms
44:clarify the article
1173:Taxonomy (biology)
747:Species inquirenda
674:Galium tricornutum
469:Solenopsis invicta
331:Objective synonyms
94:that applies to a
1140:978-3-87429-425-6
1113:978-0-85301-006-7
1080:978-0-471-07800-5
433:Petasina edentula
194:
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136:
129:
122:
76:
75:
68:
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1154:
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1143:, archived from
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815:. Archived from
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650:
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592:common dandelion
528:) have the same
512:, position, and
354:John Edward Gray
213:were changed to
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139:Araschnia levana
135:(Linnaeus, 1758)
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132:Araschnia levana
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841:Bubo scandiacus
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819:on June 3, 2011
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693:was subdivided.
657:
648:
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610:
510:circumscription
502:
427:nomen protectum
348:In the case of
309:Bubo scandiacus
279:Strix scandiaca
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159:circumscription
92:scientific name
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1020:(2): 207–212,
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534:taxonomic rank
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461:§ Zoology
442:Helix depilata
293:, the epithet
271:junior synonym
267:senior synonym
255:taxonomic rank
234:
231:
200:
197:
175:Erica herbacea
147:
146:
143:Papilio levana
128:Linnaeus, 1758
125:Papilio levana
121:Linnaeus, 1758
118:Papilio prorsa
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31:
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973:Palaeontology
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421:nomen oblitum
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392:Helix pomatia
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387:Helix pomatia
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368:published by
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339:type specimen
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49:
48:the talk page
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32:This article
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21:
20:
1149:, retrieved
1145:the original
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989:, retrieved
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278:
270:
266:
263:species-rank
248:
242:
227:
222:
218:
214:
205:
202:
189:Erica carnea
187:
174:
171:
166:
148:
142:
138:
131:
124:
117:
107:
103:
87:
77:
62:
53:
42:Please help
33:
885:, Art. 61.3
716:Acanthaceae
702:Verbenaceae
691:G. tricorne
683:G. tricorne
679:G. tricorne
677:, he cited
655:Other usage
584:Heterotypic
566:Pinus abies
562:Picea abies
554:Picea abies
550:Pinus abies
542:Picea abies
538:Pinus abies
493:nomina nuda
223:(see below)
109:Picea abies
104:Pinus abies
56:August 2020
1162:Categories
1151:2016-12-09
1119:2011-10-21
1095:(2): 33–98
1047:2009-03-21
991:2017-12-03
823:2011-11-28
758:References
671:described
438:Draparnaud
370:George Ord
245:zoological
167:vice versa
38:to readers
1089:Dumerilia
809:"synonym"
784:ICZN Code
729:Chresonym
711:Avicennia
706:Lamiaceae
661:pro parte
580:F.H.Wigg.
522:Homotypic
362:pronghorn
320:available
295:scandiaca
291:snowy owl
211:fruit fly
182:has been
1038:archived
723:See also
287:Linnaeus
233:Zoology
184:rejected
155:taxonomy
151:synonyms
100:Linnaeus
1034:1222443
708:", but
689:. Thus
485:wagneri
481:invicta
477:invicta
408:Pomatia
400:Pomatia
390:—since
382:Pomatia
149:Unlike
88:synonym
34:may be
1137:
1110:
1077:
1032:
868:26 May
500:Botany
452:2002.
450:et al.
299:noctua
1041:(PDF)
1030:JSTOR
1014:Taxon
1010:(PDF)
985:(PDF)
968:(PDF)
669:Dandy
667:When
588:split
558:Pinus
546:Picea
404:Helix
396:Helix
307:, as
259:taxon
96:taxon
90:is a
1135:ISBN
1108:ISBN
1075:ISBN
928:ICZN
907:ICZN
895:ICZN
883:ICZN
870:2024
853:2021
696:The
590:the
530:type
514:rank
335:type
304:Bubo
281:and
86:, a
1022:doi
950:ICN
857:doi
795:ICN
772:ICN
504:In
311:).
243:In
169:).
82:In
1164::
1091:,
1036:,
1028:,
1018:44
1016:,
1012:,
978:16
976:,
970:,
851:.
845:.
811:.
487:.
467:,
225:.
193:L.
179:L.
1093:4
1050:.
1024::
994:.
872:.
859::
843:"
839:"
826:.
649:.
645:v
526:≡
436:(
112:.
69:)
63:(
58:)
54:(
50:.
40:.
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