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

Tue Nov 9 16:33:10 CST 2010

Dear Rich, list members,

I think there is a disconnect between what the Code governs i.e. nomenclatural acts - creation and usage of family-group, genus-group, and species-group names (i.e., the epithet portion only), and the combination of genus-group name and species epithet (i.e. binomen) that for practical purposes constitutes the actual species name (taxon name at species level), but are considered to be taxonomic as opposed to nomenclatural actions. Thus it is perhaps not surprising that there are few references in the Code to the nature and treatment of binomial combinations, and why such binomial homonyms as may exist are not included in the definitions reproduced below. Simply because something is not defined in the Code does not preclude it from existing outside the scope of governance of the Code (which is confined to nomenclature), I would submit.

In other words I have not seen any compelling argument that binomial homonyms do not exist in zoology, and therefore if they exist in zoology, they can equally exist between Codes as well - unless someone would like to put the counter-argument??

On one other point - the link to the synonyms page previously posted may have split over more than one line in some persons' email receipts according to the whims of the email package used. If you tried the link and did not get a result, either manually add in the missing portion that appears on the next line to the URL as automatically created, or go to the "IRMNG homonyms" page:

http://www.cmar.csiro.au/datacentre/irmng/homonyms.htm

and click on the link "Current IRMNG homonyms list - species level", which will take you to the same place.

Regards - Tony

> -----Original Message-----
> From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu [mailto:taxacom-
> bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Richard Pyle
> Sent: Wednesday, 10 November 2010 7:38 AM
> To: dipteryx at freeler.nl; taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Species-level homonyms - between/within codes
> 
> 
> 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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> 
> 
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