Names, Concepts, Codes
and Lots of Confusion
An Introduction to
Taxonomic Names of Organisms
Richard L. Pyle
Bishop Museum, Honolulu
Taxonomic Databases Working Group
Fremantle, 19 October 2008
Taxonomy is...
“The perpetual re-classification of
mis-named species.”
“A necessary evil.”
- Randall Kosaki
Images: Biodiversity Heritage Library
Carolus Linnaeus
1707-1778
Image: Biodiversity
Wikimedia Commons
Heritage Library
Codes of Nomenclature
International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Governs scientific names of plants and fungi
First established in 1867, and formalized in 1930
Fixes 1 May 1753 as official start (Linnaeus’ Species Plantarum)
Governed by the International Botanical Congress (IBC)
Managed by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy
Updated every 6 years at the IBC (currently 2006 Vienna Code; next edition 2011)
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
•
•
•
•
•
•
Governs scientific names of animals
First established in 1895
Fixes 1 January 1758 as official start (Linnaeus’ Systema Naturae)
Governed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)
Managed by a Secretariat
Updated as needed (currently 4th Edition; 5th Edition in early drafting stage)
International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (ICNB)
•
•
•
•
Governs scientific names of bacteria
Initial bacteriological code in 1947 discarded, and ICNB established in 1980
Fixes 1 January 1980 as official start
Governed by the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP)
International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV)
International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP)
International Society for Phylogenetic Nomenclature (ISPN)
Why all the Fuss?
Better Communication!
Multiple Names for the Same Organism (Synonyms)
Pomacanthus imperator
Holacanthus bishopi
Why all the Fuss?
Better Communication!
Multiple Names for the Same Organism (Synonyms)
Pomacanthus imperator
= Holacanthus bishopi
Same Name for Multiple Organisms (Homonyms)
Centropyge flavissima
Centropyge flavissima
Why all the Fuss?
Better Communication!
Multiple Names for the Same Organism (Synonyms)
Pomacanthus imperator
= Holacanthus bishopi
Same Name for Multiple Organisms (Homonyms)
Centropyge flavissima
Centropyge heraldi
= Centropyge flavissima
What’s In a Name?
What Is a Name?
“Name” as Text String: 13
Anthias
Pseudanthias
“Name” sensu Botany: 9
Anthias (Pseudanthias)
Anthias ventralis
“Name” sensu Zoology: 4
Anthias hawaiiensis
Anthias
Anthias (Pseudanthias) ventralis
Pseudanthias
Anthias (Pseudanthias) hawaiiensis
ventralis
Pseudanthias ventralis
hawaiiensis
Pseudanthias hawaiiensis
Pseudanthias ventralis ventralis
Pseudanthias ventralis hawaiiensis
Pseudanthias (Pseudanthias) ventralis ventralis
Pseudanthias (Pseudanthias) ventralis hawaiiensis
The Concept of Authorship
In Zoology:
Anthias ventralis Randall 1979
Anthias hawaiiensis Lubbock 1985
Pseudanthias ventralis (Randall 1979)
Pseudanthias hawaiiensis (Lubbock 1985)
Anthias ventralis Randall 1979 ex Thompson
In Botany:
Anthias ventralis Rand.
Anthias hawaiiensis Lub.
Pseudanthias ventralis (Rand.) R.Pyle
Pseudanthias hawaiiensis (Lub.) R.Pyle
Anthias ventralis Thomp. ex Rand.
Infraspecifc Ranks
In Zoology:
Anthias ventralis Randall 1979
Anthias hawaiiensis Lubbock 1985
Pseudanthias ventralis (Randall 1979)
Pseudanthias hawaiiensis (Lubbock 1985)
Anthias ventralis Randall 1979 ex Thompson 1950
Anthias ventralis hawaiiensis Lubbock 1985
In Botany:
Anthias ventralis Rand.
Anthias hawaiiensis Lub.
Pseudanthias ventralis (Rand.) R.Pyle
Pseudanthias hawaiiensis (Lub.) R.Pyle
Anthias ventralis Thomp. ex Rand.
Anthias ventralis subsp. hawaiiensis (Lub.) J.Smith
Anthias ventralis var. hawaiiensis (Lub.) B.Jones
Anthias ventralis subsp. hawaiiensis var. typus (Br.) Rand.
Anthias ventralis subsp. typus (Br.) R.Pyle
Anthias hawaiiensis subsp. typus (L.) R.Pyle
The Concept of Basionym
In Zoology:
Anthias ventralis Randall 1979
Anthias hawaiiensis Lubbock 1985
Pseudanthias ventralis (Randall 1979)
Pseudanthias hawaiiensis (Lubbock 1985)
In Botany:
Anthias ventralis Rand.
Anthias hawaiiensis Lub.
Pseudanthias ventralis (Rand.) R.Pyle
Pseudanthias hawaiiensis (Lub.) R.Pyle
More Confusing Differences
In Zoology:
“Available”
“Valid”
“Junior Synonym”
“Senior Synonym”
In Botany:
“Validly Published”
“Correct Name”
“Homotypic Synonym”
“Heteroptypic Synonym”
Anthias ventralis Randall 1979
= Anthias hawaiiensis Lubbock 1985
Pseudanthias ventralis (Rand.) R.Pyle
= Anthias ventralis Rand.
= Anthias hawaiiensis Lub.
Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904
HOLOTYPE: USNM 50881
Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904 SEC Snyder 1904
The World of Taxonomy
The Real World
Holacanthus acanthops Norman 1922 SEC Norman 1922
Holacanthus acanthops Norman 1922
HOLOTYPE: BMNH 1922.1.13.38
Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904
HOLOTYPE: USNM 50881
Xiphypops Jordan 1922
TYPE SPECIES: Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904
Xiphypops fisheri (Snyder 1904) SEC Jordan 1922
= Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904 SEC Snyder 1904
Holacanthus acanthops Norman 1922
HOLOTYPE: BMNH 1922.1.13.38
Xiphypops fisheri (Snyder 1904)
Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904
HOLOTYPE: USNM 50881
Centropyge flavicauda Fraser-Brunner 1933 SEC Fraser-Brunner 1933
Centropyge fisheri (Snyder 1904) SEC Fraser-Brunner 1933
= Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904 SEC Snyder 1904
= Xiphypops fisheri (Snyder 1904) SEC Jordan 1922
Centropyge acanthops (Norman 1922) SEC Fraser-Brunner 1933
= Holacanthus acanthops Norman 1922 SEC Norman 1922
Centropyge acanthops (Norman 1922)
Holacanthus acanthops Norman 1922
HOLOTYPE: BMNH 1922.1.13.38
Centropyge flavicauda Fraser-Brunner 1933
HOLOTYPE: BMNH 1894.4.24.4
Centropyge fisheri (Snyder 1904)
Xiphypops fisheri (Snyder 1904)
Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904
HOLOTYPE: USNM 50881
Centropyge fisheri (Snyder 1904) SEC Pyle 2003
> Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904 SEC Snyder 1904
> Xiphypops fisheri (Snyder 1904) SEC Jordan 1922
> Centropyge fisheri (Snyder 1904) SEC Fraser-Brunner 1933
> Centropyge flavicauda Fraser-Brunner 1933 SEC Fraser-Brunner 1933
= Centropyge fisheri (Snyder 1904) SEC Fraser-Brunner 1933
+ Centropyge flavicauda Fraser-Brunner 1933 SEC Fraser-Brunner 1933
Centropyge acanthops (Norman 1922) SEC Pyle 2003
= Holacanthus acanthops Norman 1922 SEC Norman 1922
= Centropyge acanthops (Norman 1922) SEC Fraser-Brunner 1933
Centropyge acanthops (Norman 1922)
Holacanthus acanthops Norman 1922
HOLOTYPE: BMNH 1922.1.13.38
Centropyge flavicauda Fraser-Brunner 1933
HOLOTYPE: BMNH 1894.4.24.4
Centropyge fisheri (Snyder 1904)
Xiphypops fisheri (Snyder 1904)
Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904
HOLOTYPE: USNM 50881
Taxon Names and Databases
Specimen Database
CatID Family
Genus
1234 Labridae Coris
4321 Scaridae Scarus
5678 Serranidae Anthias
8675 Dasyatidae Dasyatis
3210 Labridae Coris
3456 Scaridae Scarus
9876 Serranidae Anthias
6789 Dasyatidae Dasyatis
Species
gaimard
sordidus
ventralis
lata
gaimard
sordidus
ventralis
latus
NameID Family
Genus
12121 Labridae Coris
98989 Scaridae Scarus
45454 Serranidae Anthias
23232 Dasyatidae Dasyatis
Author
Det.
Smith
Randall
Jones
Pyle
Brown Suzumoto
Linnaeus Bowen
Smith
JER
Jones
Pyle
Lubbock Culp
L.
Ohara
Species
gaimard
sordidus
ventralis
lata
Author
Smith
Jones
Brown
Linnaeus
Taxon Name Authority
Det. Date
1967-03-24
2004-04-07
1978-12-14
1903-01-03
1967-03-24
2004-07-04
1985-04-10
2005-03-20
Collector etc...
Basabe
Tanaka
Jones
Jordan
Basabe
Tanaka
Earle
Evermann
Taxon Names and Databases
Specimen Database
CatID NameID
Det.
1234 12121 Randall
4321 98989 Pyle
5678 45454 Suzumoto
8675 23232 Bowen
3210 12121 JER
3456 98989 Pyle
9876 45454 Culp
6789 23232 Ohara
Det. Date
1967-03-24
2004-04-07
1978-12-14
1903-01-03
1967-03-24
2004-07-04
1985-04-10
2005-03-20
NameID Family
Genus
12121 Labridae Coris
98989 Scaridae Scarus
45454 Serranidae Anthias
23232 Dasyatidae Dasyatis
Collector etc...
Basabe
Tanaka
Jones
Jordan
Basabe
Tanaka
Earle
Evermann
Species
gaimard
sordidus
ventralis
lata
Author
Smith
Jones
Brown
Linnaeus
Taxon Name Authority
Taxon Names and Databases
Specimen Database
CatID Collector etc...
1234 Basabe
4321 Tanaka
5678 Jones
8675 Jordan
3210 Basabe
3456 Tanaka
9876 Earle
6789 Evermann
CatID
Det.
1234 Randall
4321 Pyle
5678 Suzumoto
5678 Bowen
5678 Randall
5678 Pyle
Det. Date NameID
1967-03-24
12121
2004-04-07
98989
1978-12-14
45454
1903-01-03
23232
1967-03-24
45454
2004-04-07
98989
Determination
NameID Family
Genus
12121 Labridae Coris
98989 Scaridae Scarus
45454 Serranidae Anthias
23232 Dasyatidae Dasyatis
Species
gaimard
sordidus
ventralis
lata
Author
Smith
Jones
Brown
Linnaeus
Taxon Name Authority
1
4
3
2
Publications
PID
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Citation
Snyder 1904
Norman 1922
Jordan 1922
Fra.-Br. 1933
Shen 1973
Allen 1980
Smith 1985
Pyle 2003
Schindler, 2004
Taxon Concepts
CID NID PID Full Name
10
1
1 Holacanthus fisheri Snyder 1904
11
2
2 Holacanthus acanthops Norman 1922
12
1
3 Xiphypops fisheri Snyder 1904
13
3
4 Centropyge flavicauda Fra.-Br. 1933
14
1
4 Centropyge fisheri (Snyder 1904)
15
2
4 Centropyge acanthops (Norman 1922)
16
4
5 Centropyge caudoxanthourus Shen 1973
17
3
6 Centropyge flavicauda Fra.-Br. 1933
18
4
6
=Centropyge caudoxanthourus Shen 1973
19
3
7 Centropyge flavicauda Fra.-Br. 1933
20
1
8 Centropyge fisheri (Snyder 1904)
21
2
8
=Centropyge flavicauda Fra.-Br. 1933
22
3
8
=Centropyge caudoxanthourus Shen 1973
23
4
8 Centropyge acanthops (Norman 1922)
24
1
9 Centropyge fisheri (Snyder 1904)
Taxon Names
NID
1
2
3
4
NameElement
fisheri Snyder
acanthops Norman
flavicauda Fra.-Br.
caudoxanthourus Shen.
Taxon Concept Authority
Specimen
Database
CatID Collector etc...
1234 Basabe
4321 Tanaka
5678 Jones
8675 Jordan
3210 Basabe
3456 Tanaka
9876 Earle
6789 Evermann
ConceptID ParentID PubID Rank
91827
24680
6767 Family
58585
13579
6767 Family
72727
97531
6767 Family
58392
86420
6767 Family
44444
91827
9898 Genus
77777
58585
9898 Genus
99999
72727
9898 Genus
11111
58392
9898 Genus
12121
44444
5050 Species
98989
77777
3333 Species
45454
99999
2222 Species
23232
11111
2222 Species
CatID Det.
Det. Date ConceptID
1234 Randall 1967-03-24 12121
4321 Pyle
2004-04-07 98989
5678 Suzumoto 1978-12-14 45454
5678 Bowen 1903-01-03 23232
5678 Randall 1967-03-24 45454
5678 Pyle
2004-04-07 98989
Determination
PubID Author
9898 Linnaeus
6767 Lacépède
3333 Randall
2222 Pyle
4455 Brown
1818 Jones
5050 Smith
NameString
Labridae Linnaeus SEC Lacépède
Scaridae Linnaeus SEC Lacépède
Serranidae Lacépède SEC Lacépède
Dasyatidae Lacépède SEC Lacépède
Coris Linnaeus SEC Linnaeus
Scarus Linnaeus SEC Linnaeus
Anthias Linnaeus SEC Linnaeus
Dasyatis Linnaeus SEC Linnaeus
Coris gaimard Smith SEC Smith
Scarus sordidus Jones SEC Randall
Anthias ventralis Brown SEC Pyle
Dasyatis lata Linnaeus SEC Pyle
Year
1758
1802
1978
2003
1952
1967
2000
etc...
Title
etc...
Systema Naturae per regna tria...
Histoire naturelle des poissons...
A revision of the labroid fishes...
Systematics and biogeography...
A new species of basslet in the....
Parrotfishes of the western Indian...
Phylogenetic analysis of the...
Publication Authority