nomenclatural

Nomenclatural is an adjective relating to nomenclature—the system of naming things in a given field. In biology, nomenclatural considerations govern the assignment, formation, publication, and use of scientific names for organisms. It focuses on the naming process rather than the description or classification itself, which are the concerns of taxonomy.

Biological nomenclature is regulated by international codes that standardize how names are created and maintained. The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) covers animals; the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) covers those groups; the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) handles cultivated taxa. For viruses, the ICTV governs naming conventions. Names must be published with a description or indication that meets the code; types anchor name reference; priority dictates that older names generally take precedence over newer ones if competing.

Common nomenclatural terms include valid name (nomen validum), available name, synonym (different names for same taxon), homonym (same name used for different taxa), basionym (the original name on which a new name is based), and nomina nuda (naked names not accompanied by description). When changes occur, names may be conserved or rejected under special procedures, yielding conserved names, rejected names, or nomina novata.

The aim is stability and universality in scientific communication, reducing ambiguity when discussing biodiversity, systematics, and conservation. While nomenclatural considerations are most prominent in biology, similar concerns exist in other fields, such as chemical nomenclature governed by IUPAC, or cultivar naming under the ICNCP.