How to record a Parenthetic Author

In these two scientific names:

the name in parentheses (Brown) is the author of the original species name. This bracketed name - the parenthetic author - comes about when the species epithet in a scientific name is combined with a different genus. This is a specialised form of synonymisation.

In 2002 Brown wrote a paper identifying a new zoological species, Aus bus. The scientific name is:

Aus bus Brown, 2002.

In 2004 Wood publishes a paper that argues that while the species is valid it belongs in a different genus, Xus. According to the rules of the ICZN, the new scientific name is:

Xus bus (Brown, 2002)

The use of parentheses indicate that the species bus was not originally described in the genus Xus and acknowledges the author of the original name.

Botanists take this a bit further and include the author who moved the name (but not the dates). According to the rules of the ICBN, the original scientific name would be:

Aus bus Brown

and the re-combined scientific name would be:

Xus bus (Brown) Wood

Technically, Aus bus and Xus bus are synonyms (and they are recognised as synonyms in EMu as we'll see when we check the Homotypics tab) but it is more important to identify them as combinations, hence the inclusion of the name of the original Name AuthorClosedThe author responsible for writing the formal description of a species (i.e. specifying a Taxonomic classification for the species). in parentheses.

In 2002 Brown published a paper identifying a new botanical species, Aus bus Brown:

Classification tab

In 2004 Wood publishes a paper that argues that while the species is valid it belongs in a different genus, Xus.

  1. First we add a record for Xus bus:
    • Add the genus and species.
    • Set Currently Accepted?: (Currently Accepted Name) to Yes.
    • Record the Citation on the Citations tab and set the Primary Citation: (Details) option to Yes.
    • Set Name authors same as citation authors?: (Name Authors) on the Authors tab to Yes:

    Classification tab

    When a scientific name is re-combined it is necessary to identify the currently accepted name and to associate the synonymous names in order to maintain a complete name history.

  2. Search for the Aus bus record.
  3. Select No from Currently Accepted? (Currently Accepted Name) on the Classification tab.

    The Current Name: (Currently Accepted Name) field becomes available:

    Classification tab

  4. Enter Xus bus in Current Name: (Currently Accepted name) and click the Attach Attach button beside the field.

    A message displays indicating that Aus bus Brown is to become a heterotypic synonym of Xus bus Wood:

    Warning message

  5. Click OK to continue.

    Note: Aus bus is actually a homotypic synonym of Xus bus, but for the moment EMu first registers that there is a synonymous relationship between the two names. We make it a homotypic synonym from Step 8 onwards.

    The current name for Aus bus Brown is now indicated as Xus bus Wood.

  6. Save the record:

    Classification tab

  7. In the Xus bus record, select the Primary Citation tab.
  8. Select No from the Is Basionym?: (Basionym) drop list.

    Note: In Zoology, you would select from the Is Original Name?: (Original Name) drop list.

    The Basionym Is: (Basionym) field becomes available.

  9. Enter Aus bus in Basionym Is: (Basionym) and click the Attach Attach button.

    A message displays indicating that Aus bus Brown will become a homotypic synonym of Xus bus Wood:

    Warning message

  10. Click OK to continue.
  11. Save the record:

    Primary Citation tab

  12. Select the Authors Tab:

    Authors tab

    Wood is listed as the Name AuthorClosedThe author responsible for writing the formal description of a species (i.e. specifying a Taxonomic classification for the species). for Xus bus but we need to acknowledge that Brown is the original author of the species name.

  13. Attach the Parties record for Brown in the Authors: (Parenthetic Author) field.
  14. Select Author from the Role: (Parenthetic Author) Lookup List.
  15. In the Year: (Parenthetic Authors) field enter the year in which the original scientific name (Aus bus) was published (2002 in this example).
  16. Save the record.

    The scientific name is generated using the parenthetic author name according to the rules of ICBNClosedInternational Code of Botanical Nomenclature.:

    Adding a Parenthetic Author

    Note: The new scientific name for Xus bus - Xus bus (Brown) Wood - indicates that the species name bus was not originally combined with Xus, that the author of the original name was Brown, and that Wood is the author of the current name.
    Aus bus Brown and Xus bus (Brown) Wood are now synonyms of each other.

    If we check the Aus bus Brown Homotypics tabs, we discover that Xus bus (Brown) Wood is listed and identified as a Combination synonym:

    Adding a Parenthetic Author

    And on the the Homotypics tabs of Xus bus (Brown) Wood, Aus bus Brown is listed as a Combination synonym:

    Adding a Parenthetic Synonym