Homotypic or objective synonymy occurs when the same HolotypeIn Taxonomy the definitive Type specimen on which a scientific name of a species is based. was used to define two (or more) scientific names.
Note: A re-combined name (when a species name is combined with a different genus name) is a special case of Homotypic synonymy and is dealt with in How to record a Parenthetic Author.
In the following example:
- Both names were recorded as currently accepted:
In other situations only one or neither name will be recorded as currently accepted. When considering the example below, it is only important to ensure that the scientific name with Priority
In Taxonomy, where two or more scientific names are synonyms, the Name that was published before the others is said to have Priority and is the Currently Accepted Name for a species. is the currently accepted name.Note: Where names are in a synonymous relationship, only one can be currently accepted.
- On the Primary Citation tab for each name, Is Original Name?: (Original Name) is set to
Yes.This may or may not be the case in practice.
Note: Only the name with priority can be recorded as the Original Name.
Example
- In 1910 Wood described a new zoological species Gus hus Wood, 1910.
This was a currently accepted name:
And is indicated as the original name on the Primary Citation tab (Is Original Name?: (Original Name) is set to
Yes). - In 1950 Brown identified Jus kus Brown, 1950.
This too was a currently accepted name:
And is indicated as the original name on the Primary Citation tab (Is Original Name?: (Original Name) is set to
Yes). - In 2004 another scientist reali
- The currently accepted name would be Gus hus Wood, 1910 as it has priority.
- The scientific name Jus kus Brown, 1950 would remain exactly as it is - no re-combination has taken place - but it would be considered a homotypic synonym of Gus hus Wood, 1910. This will be the junior synonym in this relationship.
Note: Only one scientific name can be the currently accepted name. It is not possible to create a synonymous relationship between two names that are both currently accepted, and trying to do so will generate a warning message. Therefore:
- Ensure that the scientific name with priority is the currently accepted name (Gus hus Wood, 1910 in this example).
Next ensure that the other scientific name is NOT the currently accepted name (Jus kus Brown, 1950 in this example):
- Select Unknown from the Currently Accepted?: (Currently Accepted Name) drop list.
A message displays:
- Click OK.
Note: See Pending tab for an explanation of what happens to heterotypic synonyms that are moved to the Pending tab.
The All Synonyms tab disappears from the Jus kus record.
Note: Only the record for the currently accepted name has the All Synonyms tab and is able to list all synonyms.
- Select the Primary Citation tab and if Is Original Name?: (Original Name) is set to
Yes, select Unknown from the drop list. - Save the record.
In the record for the currently accepted name (Gus hus Wood, 1910 in this example):
- Select the Homotypics tab.
- Attach the Jus kus Brown, 1950 record in the Name: (Homotypic Names and Combinations) field.
- The default under Combination/Other: (Homotypic Names and Combinations) is
Combination. Delete this and replace withOther. - Save the record.
If we now display the Jus kus record, we find that Currently Accepted?: (Currently Accepted Name) is automatically set to No and that Current Name: (Currently Accepted name) points to the Gus hus record:
If we check the All Synonyms tab in Gus hus we find that Jus kus is added to the Synonyms List and identified as a Homotypic synonym:
