Transcript Introduction to Scientific Nomenclature

Introduction to
Scientific Nomenclature
Hendrik Segers
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Hue University, Vietnam
January 2009
What nomenclature?
A set of mandatory rules and voluntary recommendations
that determine the structure and formation of names of
organisms, for use in scientific communication.
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!
Nomenclature codes
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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
The ICZN
History of zoological nomenclature
1758
1842
1889
1901
Formal starting point = 10th Edition of Linnaeus’s Systema Naturae (also
Clerck’s Aranei Svecici)
Strickland Code (botany and zoology)
First ICZ meeting (Paris); tentative adoption of a set of rules
Fifth ICZ meeting (Berlin); “Rules of Zoological Nomenclature”;
published as Règles Internationales de la Nomenclature Zoologique (French,
English & German)
1961
1964
1985
1988
1995
1999
First edition of the Code of Zoological Nomenclature
Second edition
Third edition
Launch of fourth edition project
Draft of fourth edition released by Secretariat
Fourth edition (current edition)
Takes effect from 1 January 2000
2005
Discussion on registration of names re-opened; “zoobank”, Launch of fifth
edition project
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;…)
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;…)
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
Ruling principles
• Nomenclature = naming tool
Nomenclature only follows taxonomy
Tool
Science
Ruling principles
• Nomenclature = naming tool
• Typification
The taxonomic identity of a name is
determined by that of its type
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 namebearing 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
Principle of Typification
Types of name-bearing types (in the species group)
Original designation
Subsequent designation
(Fixed in the original publication)
(Not fixed in the original publication)
Holotype: the single specimen upon
Lectotype: a syntype designated as
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 namebearing type
Hapantotype: (special case)
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)
How does it work?
Syntypes
Type localities
New Species A
Species B
How does it work?
Holotype + Paratypes
Type locality
New Species A
Species B
How does it work?
Lectotype + paralectotype
Type localities
Species A
Species B
How does it work?
Lectotype + paralectotype
Type localities
Species A
Species B
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
Ruling principles
• Nomenclature = naming tool
• Typification
• Principle of Synonymy
1 taxon should only have 1 valid name
Synonyms…
• Synonyms: 2 or more names = 1 taxon
– Nomenclatural (= objective, homotypic) synonyms
– Taxonomic (= subjective, heterotypic) synonyms
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) ?
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)
… and Homonyms
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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)?
Ruling principles
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Nomenclature = naming tool
Typification
Principle of Synonymy
Principle of Homonymy
• Principle of Priority
“the oldest fool is always right”
Synonyms…
• Lecane ludwigii (Eckstein, 1883) or
• Lecane stokesi (Pell, 1890) or
• Lecane ohioensis (Herrick, 1885) ?
« Oldest fool »:
Lecane ludwigii (Eckstein, 1883)
… and Homonyms
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
… and Homonyms
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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
Principle of Priority
Can Cause Problems !
The Commission can intervene
(nomina rejicienda, conservanda)
Ruling principles
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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
What’s in a name?
Monostyla closterocerca Schmarda, 1853
new combination:
Lecane closterocerca (Schmarda, 1853) Edmondson, 1935
With subgenus name:
Lecane (Monostyla) closterocerca (Schmarda, 1853) Edmondson, 1935
Short:
Lecane (M.) closterocerca (Shmarda, 1853) Or: L. closterocerca
With subspecies name: trinomen
Lecane (Monostyla) closterocerca amazonica Koste, 1972
Or:
L. closterocerca amazonica
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
Formation of Scientific Names
• Formation of species names:
- After features: adjectives
e.g.:
-
Lepadella minuta
Scaridium grande
S. longicaudum
Brachionus bidentatus
Keratella taurocephala
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.
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
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
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;
- (ñ becomes n, ø becomes o, …)
But
- Zygiella x-notata
Formal requirements in ICZN (1)
• Name or nomenclatural act must be Published;
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;
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!
Some examples:
One-letter difference…
Tortricidae (Moths, Northern Mexico: (Kearfott, 1907)
Eucosma fandana
Eucosma gandana
Eucosma handana
Eucosma landana
Eucosma mandana
Eucosma nandana
Eucosma pandana
Eucosma sandana
Eucosma wandana
But also:
Cydia candana
Epiblema tandana
Epinotia xandana
Epinotia zandana
Pelochrista randana
Pelochrista vandana
More examples….
Fun with Latin:
• Stupidogobius Aurich, 1938 (stupid fish)
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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),…
Even more examples….
Not another one…
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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.
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
The different codes: a comparison
1) The codes have different starting dates and
works
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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)
The different codes: a comparison
1) The codes have different starting dates and
works
2) The codes are independent
=> inter-code homonyms are possible, allowed,
and common
• Lactarius nonfungus Nolf & Bajpai 1992: fish
• Lactarius nonpiscis Verbeken 1996: fungus
Inter-Code Generic homonyms
Total
Botanical
genus names
homonyms in
Zool. record
64,419
8,784
(13.6%)
in common
use
28,041
3,554
(12.7%)
Bacteriologic
al 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
Examples of genus + species homonoms:
• Poria cocos: Coleoptera and Fungus;
• Pieris japonica: butterfly and plant;
• Culcita novaeguineae: seastar, and Culcita novae-guineae: fern
The different codes: a comparison
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Principle of co-ordination:
Names established at any rank within the F/G/S groups are
deemed established at any rank within the group
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Family-group: Super-,Family, sub-, Tribus, subGenus-group: Genus, subSpecies-group: Species, sub-
Zoology only
The different codes: a comparison
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Principle of co-ordination
Tautonyms
(Bison bison, Glis glis, Mops mops...)
allowed in zoology;
The different codes: a comparison
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Principle of co-ordination
Tautonyms
Latin diagnosis
required in botanical nomenclature
The different codes: a comparison
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Principle of co-ordination
Tautonyms
Latin diagnosis
Application & different standardised
endings
Table 2: Standardized endings for names of taxa
Rank :
Zoological
Botanical
phylum/divisio
*
- phyta/-mycota1
classis
*
subclassis
*
superordo
*
- opsida/-mycetes1/ phyceae²
- idea/-mycetidae1/phycidae2
- anae
ordo
*
- ales
- ales
subordo
*
- ineae
- ineae
superfamily
- oidea
(not used)
(not used)
family
- idae
- aceae
- aceae
subfamily
- inae
- oideae
- oideae
tribus
- ini
- eae
- eae
subtribus
- ina
- inae
- inae
1:
for fungi; ²: for algae
Bacteriological
Interesting websites
•
International Code of Botanical Nomenclature :
http://ibot.sav.sk/icbn/main.htm
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International Commission and Code on Zoological Nomenclature :
http://www.iczn.org
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Nomenclator Zoologicus (347,000 zoological genus- and subgenus
names from 1758 to 1994: http://www.ubio.org/NomenclatorZoologicus
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GBIF (www.gbif.org), Catalogue of Life (www.catalogueoflife.org), Zoobank
(www.zoobank.org), Universal Biological Indexer and Organizer (uBio:
www.uBio.org),
ERMS, WoRMS, Fishbase, FaunaEuropaea (www.faunaeur.org),
Encyclopedia of Life, Speciesbase,……
Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG: www.tdwg.org)
BioNET International (http://www.bionet-intl.org/opencms/opencms/index1.jsp)
Global Taxonomy Initiative (http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/cross-cutting/taxonomy/)
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Did I mention these ones?
Games with letters/statistics:
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Aa Baker, 1940 (mollusk)
Aaadonta Solem, 1976 (endodontoid slug)
Cavaticovelia aaa Gagne, 1975 (Hawaiian bug)
Aragara Walker, 1860 (fly; longest palindrome)
Ia io Thomas, 1902 (bat; shortest binomen)
Gammaracanthuskytodermogammarus loricatobaicalensis
Dybowski, 1926 (amphipod; the longest binomen)
• Zyzzyxdonta Solem, 1976 (endodontoid slug,
with opposite features of Aaadonta)
• Zyzzyzus Stechow, 1921 (Coelenterata)
… and many, many more:
http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~heraty/menke.html
http://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html
Thank you for your attention