Rules of Biological Nomenclature

The term Nomenclature comes from two latin words:

• Nomen= Name and Calare=to call

Nomenclature is collectively known as call by name or allocation

of names to the taxa.
 Difference between vernacular and
scientific names
• Before Linnaeus, most of the names applied to plants or
animals were the common name/regional name or vernacular
name. Such common and vernacular names have proved to be
inadequate for scientific purposes because they are different
in the thousands of languages. The same name is applied to
different organisms in different regions.
• Linnaeus is to be credited with having standardized the system
of scientific nomenclature. The simple system of a unique
combination of two names for every species, often called the
binomial system, was applied for the first time, introduced by
Linnaeus, in his book Systema Naturae (10th Edition, 1758).
Such type of a binomial name is known as scientific name.
 International Code of Zoological
Nomenclature

Nomenclature is governed by International Code of

Zoological Nomenclature. The International Code
of Zoological Nomenclature is a set of rules in
zoology that have one fundamental aim: to provide
the maximum universality and continuity in the
naming of all animals according to taxonomic
judgment. The Code is meant to guide only the
nomenclature of animals.
 History of Nomenclature
• Carolus Linnaeus was the father of Taxonomy. He used
nomenclature first in Critica Botanica (1737), then in
Philosophy of Botanica (1751) and ultimately in 10 th
Edition of Systema Naturae in 1758.
• In 1898 International Commission of Zoological
Nomenclature formulated the code that was adopted in
1901 and issued in 1904.
• The recent version of the code was accepted on 6 th
November, 1961 and adopted in 15th International
Congress of Zoology; however some modifications were
accepted in 1964 at 16th Congress
 Structure of Code
• The code consists of a preamble, 90 articles
described in 18 chapters, 5 appendices, an
official glossary and a detailed index.
• Preamble deals with the objective of the code
that is to promote Stability, Universality, and
Unique.
 Articles
• Application: Names are applicable for animal
known to occur in nature. Names given to
hypothetical concept, teratological specimen or
hybrids forms are excluded.
• Starting Point: The date of publication of 10 th
Edition of Systema Naturae, i.e. 1st January, 1758
was assigned as starting point.
• Number of words in code:
• Genus: Uninominal, Species: Binominal, Subspecies:
Trinominal.
 Approval of a given name
• Published along with a type specimen.
• Must be originated from Greek or Latin
• If taken from other language, it must be latinized.
• Name of the family, genus or upper group must
be printed with capital initial letter and that of a
species name must have a lower case letter.
• Must be published in paper and identical copies
will be distributed for scientific, public or
permanent record
 Validity of name
• Principle of priority must be maintained.
Other name may be known as synonym.
• The name must be underlined or Italized.
• The Generic name must be noun and species
name must be adjective according to
grammer.
• Type specimen must be deposited
 Authorship
• The name of the author, full or abbreviated
should follow the species name without any
punctuation.
• The year of publication must follow the author
name
• When the name is changed, the original
authors name is given in parentheses
 Types of name
• Homonym: Identity of spelling of available
names denoting different species with the
same genus. Senior homonym is accepted.
• Synonym: scientific names applied to a given
taxon. Laws of priority is accepted.
• Tautonym: Some generic or species name.