[Taxacom] Species-level homonyms - between/within codes

Tue Nov 9 14:38:11 CST 2010

These links might help to clear up some confusion about zoological homonyms:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted-sites/iczn/code/includes/page.jsp?article=52

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted-sites/iczn/code/includes/page.jsp?article=53

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted-sites/iczn/code/includes/page.jsp?article=57

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted-sites/iczn/code/includes/page.jsp?article=59

Also, these definitions from the Glossay of the Zoological Code might be
useful:

homonym, n.
    (1) In the family group: each of two or more available names having the
same spelling, or differing only in suffix, and denoting different nominal
taxa. (2) In the genus group: each of two or more available names having the
same spelling, and denoting different nominal taxa. (3) In the species
group: each of two or more available specific or subspecific names having
the same spelling, or spellings deemed under Article 58 to be the same, and
established for different nominal taxa, and either originally (primary
homonymy) or subsequently (secondary homonymy) combined with the same
generic name [Art. 53.3]. For examples, see Article 53.1 for family-group
names, Article 53.2 for genus-group names, and Article 53.3 for
species-group names.

junior homonym
    Of two homonyms: the later established, or in the case of simultaneous
establishment the one not given precedence under Article 24.

primary homonym
    Each of two or more identical specific or subspecific names established
for different nominal taxa and originally combined with the same generic
name [Art. 57.2]. For variant spellings deemed to be identical see Article
58.

secondary homonym
    Each of two or more identical specific or subspecific names established
for different nominal taxa and originally combined with different generic
names but subsequently combined with the same generic name [Art. 57.3]. For
variant spellings deemed to be identical see Article 58.

senior homonym
    Of two homonyms: the first established, or in the case of simultaneous
establishment the one given precedence under Article 24. 

Perhaps someone can provide similar definitions and Articles from the
Botanical Code and Bacterial Code for comparison purposes?  As far as I
understand the different Codes, the zoological Code differs only in
distinguishing "Primary Homonyms" from "Secondary Homonyms" -- which is a
natural cosequence of not regarding name-combinations as Code-governed
entities (except when secondary homonymy is involved).

The word I have been using to refer to all "collisions" of text-strings
purported to represent scientific names (cross-code; misspellings of one
name colliding with the correct spelling of another; two misspelled names
colliding with each other, etc.) is "homograph".  I did not invent this
term; it was suggested to me by Dave Remsen.

Aloha,
Rich

Richard L. Pyle, PhD
Database Coordinator for Natural Sciences
Associate Zoologist in Ichthyology
Dive Safety Officer
Department of Natural Sciences, Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817
Ph: (808)848-4115, Fax: (808)847-8252
email: deepreef at bishopmuseum.org
http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/staff/pylerichard.html

> -----Original Message-----
> From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu 
> [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of 
> dipteryx at freeler.nl
> Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 12:12 AM
> To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Species-level homonyms - between/within codes
> 
> Van: Tony.Rees at csiro.au [mailto:Tony.Rees at csiro.au]
> Verzonden: di 9-11-2010 10:37
> 
> > I realise, they are not technically homonyms under the [zoological] 
> > code which indicates that species level homonyms (except in 
> the same 
> > genus) do not officially exist, however they are binomial names 
> > representing the case of the same name used for different taxa 
> > (homonyms in the popular
> > sense) which is the purpose of my disambiguation page. If it is 
> > preferred that they are not termed "homonyms" then perhaps 
> there is a 
> > more appropriate term?
> 
> > Regards - Tony
> 
> ***
> That is a good question. Actually it is worse than that. 
> Under the zoological Code they represent binominal names 
> (binomina; note the -n-!) with the same spelling, but they 
> are not the same names.
> 
> As each Code governs only its own nomenclatural universe, the 
> term "homonym" 
> is defined separately for each separate nomenclatural 
> universe. Thus there can be no homonym across more than one 
> Code, not without either changing the existing Codes or 
> creating a new universe and defining new terms.
> 
> A neutral term would be "names with the same spelling", but 
> note that this excludes chresonyms. Even more neutral would 
> be "text strings with the same spelling", but this may cause 
> problems with orthographical variants/variant spellings.
> 
> Paul
> 
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