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{{Short description|Disused scientific name}} |
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A '''''nomen oblitum''''' ([[Latin]] for "forgotten name") is a scientific name which is both a synonym and has fallen into disuse by the scientific community. |
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In zoological nomenclature, a '''''nomen oblitum''''' (plural: '''''nomina oblita'''''; [[Latin]] for "forgotten name") is a disused scientific name which has been declared to be obsolete (figuratively "forgotten") in favor of another "protected" name. |
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In its present meaning, the ''nomen oblitum'' came into being with the fourth |
In its present meaning, the ''nomen oblitum'' came into being with the fourth edition (1999) of the ''[[International Code of Zoological Nomenclature]]''. After 1 January 2000, a scientific name may be formally declared to be a ''nomen oblitum'' when it has been shown not to have been used as a valid name within the scientific community since 1899, and when it is either a senior [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] (there is also a more recent name which applies to the same taxon, and which is in common use) or a [[Homonym (biology)|homonym]] (it is spelled the same as another name, which is in common use), and when the preferred junior synonym or homonym has been shown to be in wide use in 50 or more publications in the past few decades. Once a name has formally been declared to be a ''nomen oblitum'', the now obsolete name is to be "forgotten". By the same act, the next [[available name]] must be declared to be protected under the title '''''nomen protectum'''''. Thereafter it takes precedence.<ref name=iczn1999>ICZN 1999 (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, 1999 Ed.).</ref> |
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An example is the case of the scientific name for the [[leopard shark]]. Despite the name ''Mustelus felis'' being the [[senior synonym]], an error in recording the dates of publication resulted in the widespread use of ''Triakis semifasciata'' as the leopard shark's [[Binomial nomenclature|scientific name]]. After this long-standing error was discovered, ''T. semifasciata'' was made the valid name (as a ''nomen protectum'') and ''Mustelus felis'' was declared invalid (as a ''nomen oblitum'').<ref name="pietsch">{{cite journal |author1=Pietsch, T.W. |author2=Orr, J.W. |author3=Eschmeyer, W.N. |title=''Mustelus felis'' Ayres, 1854, a Senior Synonym of the Leopard Shark, ''Triakis semifasciata'' Girard, 1855 (Carchariniformes: Triakidae), Invalidated by "Reversal of Precedence" |journal=Copeia |volume=2012 |year=2012 |pages=98–99 |doi=10.1643/ci-11-089|s2cid=85623853 }}</ref> |
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In the first and second editions of the zoological Code (valid between 6 November 1961 and 1 January 1973), the term was also used, but names then indicated as such do not have the same status. A notable example of this previous use is that of ''[[Scrotum_humanum#.22Scrotum_humanum.22|Scrotum humanum]]''.{{clarify|date=May 2010}} |
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==Use in taxonomy== |
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The designation ''nomen oblitum'' has been used relatively frequently to keep the priority of old, sometimes disused names, and, controversially, often without establishing that a name actually meets the criteria for the designation. Some taxonomists have regarded the failure to properly establish the ''nomen oblitum'' designation as a way to avoid doing taxonomic research or to retain a preferred name regardless of priority. When discussing the taxonomy of North American birds, Rea (1983) stated that "...Swainson's [older but disused] name must stand unless it can be demonstrated conclusively to be a ''nomen oblitum'' (a game some taxonomists play to avoid their supposed fundamental principle, priority)."<ref name="rea1983">REA, A.M. (1983). ''Once A River''. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.</ref> |
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Banks and Browning (1995) responded directly to Rea's strict application of ICZN rules for determining ''nomina oblita'', stating: "We believe that the fundamental obligation of taxonomists is to promote stability, and that the principle of priority is but one way in which this can be effected. We see no stability in resurrecting a name of uncertain basis that has been used in several different ways to replace a name that has been used uniformly for most of a century."<ref name="banksbrowning1995">Banks, R.C., & Browning, M.R. (1995). "Comments on the status of revived old names for some North American birds." ''The Auk'', '''112'''(3): 633-648.</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Glossary of scientific naming]] |
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*''[[Nomen |
* ''[[Conserved name|Nomen conservandum]]'' |
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*''[[Nomen |
* ''[[Nomen dubium]]'' |
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* ''[[Nomen nudum]]'' |
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== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Taxonomy (biology)]] |
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==References== |
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*ICZN 1999 (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, 1999 Ed.) - http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted-sites/iczn/code/ |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nomen Oblitum}} |
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[[Category:Latin words and phrases]] |
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[[Category:Zoological nomenclature]] |
[[Category:Zoological nomenclature]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Latin biological phrases]] |
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[[cs:Nomen oblitum]] |
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[[hu:Nomen oblitum]] |
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[[nl:Nomen oblitum]] |
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[[pl:Nomen oblitum]] |
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Latest revision as of 01:42, 1 September 2024
In zoological nomenclature, a nomen oblitum (plural: nomina oblita; Latin for "forgotten name") is a disused scientific name which has been declared to be obsolete (figuratively "forgotten") in favor of another "protected" name.
In its present meaning, the nomen oblitum came into being with the fourth edition (1999) of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. After 1 January 2000, a scientific name may be formally declared to be a nomen oblitum when it has been shown not to have been used as a valid name within the scientific community since 1899, and when it is either a senior synonym (there is also a more recent name which applies to the same taxon, and which is in common use) or a homonym (it is spelled the same as another name, which is in common use), and when the preferred junior synonym or homonym has been shown to be in wide use in 50 or more publications in the past few decades. Once a name has formally been declared to be a nomen oblitum, the now obsolete name is to be "forgotten". By the same act, the next available name must be declared to be protected under the title nomen protectum. Thereafter it takes precedence.[1]
An example is the case of the scientific name for the leopard shark. Despite the name Mustelus felis being the senior synonym, an error in recording the dates of publication resulted in the widespread use of Triakis semifasciata as the leopard shark's scientific name. After this long-standing error was discovered, T. semifasciata was made the valid name (as a nomen protectum) and Mustelus felis was declared invalid (as a nomen oblitum).[2]
Use in taxonomy
[edit]The designation nomen oblitum has been used relatively frequently to keep the priority of old, sometimes disused names, and, controversially, often without establishing that a name actually meets the criteria for the designation. Some taxonomists have regarded the failure to properly establish the nomen oblitum designation as a way to avoid doing taxonomic research or to retain a preferred name regardless of priority. When discussing the taxonomy of North American birds, Rea (1983) stated that "...Swainson's [older but disused] name must stand unless it can be demonstrated conclusively to be a nomen oblitum (a game some taxonomists play to avoid their supposed fundamental principle, priority)."[3]
Banks and Browning (1995) responded directly to Rea's strict application of ICZN rules for determining nomina oblita, stating: "We believe that the fundamental obligation of taxonomists is to promote stability, and that the principle of priority is but one way in which this can be effected. We see no stability in resurrecting a name of uncertain basis that has been used in several different ways to replace a name that has been used uniformly for most of a century."[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ ICZN 1999 (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, 1999 Ed.).
- ^ Pietsch, T.W.; Orr, J.W.; Eschmeyer, W.N. (2012). "Mustelus felis Ayres, 1854, a Senior Synonym of the Leopard Shark, Triakis semifasciata Girard, 1855 (Carchariniformes: Triakidae), Invalidated by "Reversal of Precedence"". Copeia. 2012: 98–99. doi:10.1643/ci-11-089. S2CID 85623853.
- ^ REA, A.M. (1983). Once A River. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
- ^ Banks, R.C., & Browning, M.R. (1995). "Comments on the status of revived old names for some North American birds." The Auk, 112(3): 633-648.
