International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
International non-governmental organization
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Through Singapore, Convention (norm) and Binomial nomenclature
Organization
The ICZN is governed by the Constitution of the ICZN, which is usually published together with the ICZN Code.
Members are elected by the Section of Zoological Nomenclature, established by the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS).
The regular term of service of a member of the Commission is six years. Members can be re-elected up to a total of three full six-year terms in a row. After 18 continuous years of elected service, a break of at least three years is prescribed before the member can stand again for election.
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Activities
Since 2014, the work of the Commission is supported by a small secretariat based at the National University of Singapore, in Singapore. Previously, the secretariat was based in London and funded by the International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature. The Commission assists the zoological community "through generation and dissemination of information on the correct use of the scientific names of animals".
The ICZN publishes the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (usually referred to as "the Code" or "the ICZN Code"), a widely accepted convention containing the rules for the formal scientific naming of all organisms that are treated as animals. New editions of the Code are elaborated by the Editorial Committee appointed by the Commission. The 4th edition of the Code (1999) was edited by seven people. A 5th edition is underway.
The Commission also provides rulings on individual problems brought to its attention, as arbitration may be necessary in contentious cases, where strict adherence to the Code would interfere with stability of usage (e.g., see conserved name). These rulings are published in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. Starting in 2017, the Bulletin became an online-only journal and joined BioOne, which hosts volumes 65 (2008) onwards of the Bulletin.
Executive Secretaries
- (–2003) Andrew Wakeham-Dawson
- (2003–2008) Andrew Polaszek
- (2008–2016) Ellinor Michel
- (2016–2018) Martyn E. Y. Low
- (2018–2022) Gwynne Lim
- (2021–2021) Evan Quah
- (2022–present) Dominic Y. J. Ng