mammalogy nomenclature

8/7/2019 Mammalogy Nomenclature

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Mammalogy Nomenclature

K.L. Goodyear


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Mammalogy Nomenclature

Yes! Just like in chemistry they do regulate

these thingsunfortunately.

Enter the: International Commission ofZoological Nomenclature (ICZN)


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The Point

Ensure a unique scientific name for each taxon mustbe in Latin and conform with Latin grammar

Provide rules for publication of new names anddetermine if old names are acceptable

Ensure adequate documentation and dating of names

Ensure typification

Allow for revisions of names and classification on thebasis of new information or insights

Provide a chronological starting point to names used Provide an administrative system to oversee

interpretation and improvement of the code


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The type specimen

Type specimens are the objective standard of

reference for the application of zoological names.

When a new species or subspecies is described,

the specimen(s) on which the author based his

description become the type(s).

In this way names are linked to type specimens,

which can be referred to later if there is doubtover the interpretation of that name.


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Does it have to be typical of the

species?

No. The purpose of a type is purely

nomenclatural, i.e. to determine the

application of names.

Types do not need to be typical in the sense of

representing an average of the range of

variation of a taxon, nor do they need to be a

particular sex or life stage, or even a whole

specimen.


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How it is done

Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758.

The binominal part of the name is in italics or some otherdistinguishing font or underline to indicate that this is theuniversal scientific name.

The person who first described the species Apis mellifera in apublished work was Linnaeus in 1758 and that he described itas a member of the genus Apis.

They can shorten it!

Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 can be written as

A. mellifera L., 1758 or just A. mellifera.


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Principle of Priority

The oldest name available is the right oneExample:

Nunneley 1837 established Limax maculatus (Gastropoda), Wiktor

2001 classified it as a junior synonym ofLimax maximus Linnaeus 1758from S and W Europe.

Limax maximus was established first, so if Wiktor's 2001 classification

is accepted, Limax maximus takes precedence over Limax maculatus

and has to be used for the species.


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Principle of Coordination

The act of publishing a new zoological name automatically

establishes all the corresponding names in the relevant ranks,

with the same type.

Establishing a species name will set the stage for any newsubspecies that will be discovered!

Example:

In the species-group, publishing a species name (the binomen) Giraffa

camelopardalis Linnaeus, 1758 also establishes the subspecies name

(the trinomen) Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis Linnaeus,1758.

Genus Species Subspecies


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Principle of the First Reviser

Essentially, the fastest is rightExample

Linnus 1758 established Strix scandiaca and Strix noctua

(Aves), for which he gave different descriptions and referred todifferent types, but both taxa later turned out to refer to the

same species, the snowy owl. The two names are subjective

synonyms. Lnnberg 1931 acted as First Reviser, cited both

names and selected Strix scandiaca to have precedence.


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Principle of Homonymy

This is the principle that the name of each

taxon must be unique

It means that any one animal name, in one particular

spelling, may be used only once (within its group). This

will usually be the first-published name; any later name

with the same spelling (a homonym) is barred from

being used.T

he Principles ofPriority and the FirstReviser apply here.


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Genera can either be homonyms or not. A one-letter

difference is not tolerated.LUH!


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Example:

Drury 1773 established Cerambyx maculatus (Coleoptera) for a

species from Jamaica. Fueblin 1775 established Cerambyxmaculatus for a different species from Switzerland, and did not

refer to Drury's name. Fueblin's name is a junior primary

homonym.


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Special Cases

Sometimes a species is transferred to a genus other than the one in which

it was originally described. In this case the author name and date is put in

brackets to show that it has been reclassified.

For example the lion was originally described by Linnaeus as Felis leo but

over time knowledge of the cat family developed and the genus Felis was

split up; the lion was placed the new genus Panthera and so the name is

now Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758)

This differs from botanical practice where the author of the current

combination is appended to the name.


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Summary


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Sample Problem


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Sample Problem

mammalogy nomenclature

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