Synonymy
The existence of more than one name (synonym) for a taxon is not uncommon and can arise for a number of reasons:
- Due to the re-combination of a name, which we examine in How to record a Parenthetic Author.
- Due to the recognition that two previously published species are actually the same, or that two names actually refer to the same species.
It is this latter case that we deal with here.
The two broad categories of synonymy are Homotypic or Objective and Heterotypic or Subjective:
Synonymy |
Description |
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Also known as objective or nomenclatural synonyms as the basis for recogni Example In 1910 Wood described a new zoological species Gus hus Wood, 1910 and in 1950 Brown described Jus kus Brown, 1950. In 2004 another scientist reali
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Two or more synonyms are derived from different type specimens. Also known as subjective or taxonomic synonyms as the basis for recogni Example In 2002 Wood described a new zoological species Cus dus Wood, 2002 and in 2003 Brown described Vus wus Brown, 2003 (using different type specimens). In 2004 another scientist decided that these two names actually refer to the same species. In this case:
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Note: Where names are synonymous (and by definition interchangeable), only one of the names is identified as the currently accepted name.