codesICZN

codesICZN refers to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the formal set of rules governing the naming of animals. The Code is maintained by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) and aims to promote stability, universality, and clarity in zoological names across scientific disciplines.

Scope and purpose: The Code applies to all animals, including extinct taxa and organisms described in paleontological or comparative studies. It governs how names are formed, published, and used in relation to taxonomic ranks from species up to higher categories. It does not regulate names outside zoology, such as plants or bacteria, which are covered by other nomenclatural codes.

Availability and names: A name becomes available only if it meets the Code’s criteria for publication, description or definition, and designation of a type specimen or a clear reference. Names that fail to meet these requirements are considered unavailable. The Code regulates the formation of names, their publication, and their continued use, including provisions about synonyms, homonyms, and homonymy.

Key principles: The Code rests on principles such as Priority (the oldest available name generally has precedence), Typification (names are linked to type specimens), and Coordination (names at different ranks are interrelated through their types). It also codifies rules for forming Latinized binomials (genus and species) and for the proper designation of type material, such as holotypes, lectotypes, and neotypes.

Nomenclatural acts and publication: Naming new taxa requires a formal act that meets the Code’s standards, including explicit designation of the new name and its linkage to a type. The Code also provides rules for dealing with changes in classification, and for preserving established usages to minimize instability.

Registration and modern practice: The Code has evolved to accommodate electronic publication and the use of registries such as ZooBank to document new names and acts, aiding verification and accessibility in the digital era.