Heterotypic or subjective synonymy occurs when different type specimens are used to define two (or more) scientific names.
Example
- In 1910 Wood identified 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, and using a different Type specimenIn Taxonomy Type specimens are specimens selected to typify the described species. They are made available (often in museums) for study by Taxonomists. The Type Series is all specimens on which the description of a new species or genus is based. The Holotype is the single specimen published as "the Type" by the Name Author. An Isotype is a duplicate specimen of the Holotype collected at the same place and time as the Holotype. The Syntype is one of two or more specimens cited by the author when no Holotype was designated or it is any one of two or more specimens originally designated as Types. The Neotype specimen is selected as the Type where the original Types are known to be destroyed. Paratypes are the non-Holotype Syntypes. to Wood, 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 decided that though the type specimens were different these two names really refer to the same species. In this case:
- The currently accepted name would be Gus hus Wood, 1910 as it has PriorityIn 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..
- 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 heterotypic 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:
- The currently accepted name would be Gus hus Wood, 1910 as it has Priority
- In Jus kus Brown, 1950 (the Junior synonym in this relationship because Gus hus Wood, 1910 was published first) check whether Is Original Name?: (Original Name) is set to
Yes. If so, select Unknown from the drop list. - On the Classification tab of Jus kus Brown, 1950, select No from the Currently Accepted?: (Currently Accepted Name) drop list.
The Current Name: (Currently Accepted Name) field becomes available:
- Enter
Gus hus Wood, 1910in Current Name: (Currently Accepted name) and click the Attach
button beside the field.A message displays indicating that Jus kus Brown is to become a heterotypic synonym of Gus hus Wood:
- Click OK to continue and save the record.
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.
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 Heterotypic synonym:
