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In zoological nomenclature, the valid name of a
taxon In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; : taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular name and ...
is the correct scientific name for that taxon. The valid name must be used for that taxon, regardless of any other name that may currently be used for that taxon, or may previously have been used. A name can only be valid (or invalid) when it is an available name under the
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is a widely accepted Convention (norm), convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific name, scientific naming of organisms treated as animals. It is also informally known as the I ...
(ICZN); if a name is unavailable, then it cannot be considered either valid or invalid. In contrast, a name which is available but not the correct name for a taxon is known as an invalid name. There are two categories of invalid names.


Subjectively invalid names

Subjectively invalid names are names that have been rendered invalid by individual scientific judgement or opinion. Taxonomists may differ in their opinion, and names considered invalid by one researcher may be considered valid by another. They include: :* Junior subjective synonyms –
synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...
described from different
types Type may refer to: Science and technology Computing * Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc. * Data type, collection of values used for computations. * File type * TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file. * Ty ...
, which were previously described as separate
taxa In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; : taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular name and ...
, but are now believed to be the same taxon. The junior name is treated as invalid only so long as the two names are considered to refer to the same taxon, which is a subjective opinion. :*Junior secondary homonyms – In this case, the taxa are separate species, originally described in separate genera, but with the same specific name; if they are later placed in the same genus, this results in the species names being homonyms, and generally only the senior homonym can be valid. The junior name is treated as invalid only so long as the two taxa are considered to belong to the same genus, which is a subjective opinion. However, if a name became a secondary homonym prior to 1961, and was replaced by a new name, the original name may be permanently invalid. :*Conditionally suppressed names – these are special cases where the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature has ruled that a name can only be valid under certain conditions (e.g., when it is not considered a synonym of a name that is junior to it), but is otherwise to be suppressed. This is usually because the junior synonym (the later name) has had far wider and far longer common usage than the senior synonym (the older name).


Objectively invalid names

Objectively invalid names are names that have been rendered invalid for indisputable reasons. These names are universally accepted as invalid, and are not merely a matter of individual opinion, as is the case with subjectively invalid names. They include: :* Junior objective synonyms –
synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...
described from the same
types Type may refer to: Science and technology Computing * Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc. * Data type, collection of values used for computations. * File type * TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file. * Ty ...
. The ICZN follows the Principle of Priority, in which the oldest available name for a taxon is generally the valid name. :* Junior homonyms in the family and genus group – names of families and
genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...
which have identical spelling, but refer to different taxa. Only one of two (or more) such homonyms can be valid; junior family-rank names must typically either change their spelling or be replaced, while junior genus-rank homonyms must be replaced. :*Junior primary homonyms in a species group – cases resulting from two different organisms being originally described with identical names in the same genus. Typically, only the senior homonym can be valid, but if they are subsequently placed in different genera, they can sometimes both be valid. :*Completely suppressed names – special cases where a name is completely suppressed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. It is treated as if it had never been published, and is never to be used, regardless of meeting criteria for availability. :*Partially suppressed names – special cases where a name is partially suppressed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. Unlike completely suppressed names, partially suppressed names are still acknowledged as having been published but is used only for the purpose of homonymy, not priority.


Different rules for botany

Under the
International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants The ''International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants'' (ICN or ICNafp) is the set of rules and recommendations dealing with the formal botanical names that are given to plants, fungi and a few other groups of organisms, all tho ...
, the term validly published name has a different meaning that corresponds to zoology's available name. The botanical equivalent of zoology's term "valid name" is correct name.


See also

*
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is a widely accepted Convention (norm), convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific name, scientific naming of organisms treated as animals. It is also informally known as the I ...
*
Synonym (taxonomy) In taxonomy, the scientific classification of living organisms, a synonym is an alternative scientific name for the accepted scientific name of a taxon. The Botanical nomenclature, botanical and Zoological nomenclature, zoological codes of nomencl ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valid Name (Zoology) Zoological nomenclature