Nomen nudum · Lablypedia

In a nutshell

In taxonomy, a nomen nudum ('naked name'; plural nomina nuda) is a designation which looks exactly like a scientific name of an organism, and may have originally been intended to be one, but it has not been published with an adequate description. This makes it a "bare" or "naked" name, which cannot be accepted as it stands. A largely equivalent but much less frequently used term is nomen tantum ("name only"). Sometimes, "nomina nuda" is erroneously considered a synonym for the term "unavailable names". However, not all unavailable names are nomina nuda which applies to published names, i.e. any published name that does not fulfill the requirements of Article 12 (if published before 1931) or Article 13 (if published after 1930). Similarly, a species might be published with a partial or incomplete description that is not enough to follow the rules of publication. This will be described as nomen subnudum (abbreviated nom. subnud.) or occasionally as seminudum.

Related on Lably

Through Taxonomy (biology) and Binomial nomenclature

LabBiological Classification LabBiological Classification — Animated Chapter Film Lab · Class 11Taxonomy & The Living World Lab · Class 11The Living World — Animated Chapter Film

In zoology

According to the rules of zoological nomenclature a nomen nudum is unavailable; the glossary of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature gives this definition:

nomen nudum (pl. nomina nuda), n.
A Latin term referring to a name that, if published before 1931, fails to conform to Article 12; or, if published after 1930, fails to conform to Article 13. [...]

And among the rules of that same Zoological Code:

12.1. To be available, every new name published before 1931 must ... be accompanied by a description or a definition of the taxon that it denotes, or by an indication [i.e. that is, by reference to such a description or definition, but for a genus may also be inferred from available specific names used in combination]
13.1. To be available, every new name published after 1930 must ... be accompanied by a description or definition that states in words characters that are purported to differentiate the taxon, or be accompanied by a bibliographic reference to such a published statement.

One more chapter is free with a Lably account.

More in Animals

Monotypic taxonTaxonomic group with only one subordinate taxon Species descriptionFormal description of a discovered species ParaphylyType of taxonomic group IUCN Red ListInventory of the global conservation status of biological species SubtropicsGeographic and climate zone Common nameName generally used for a taxon, group of taxa or organism(s)

In zoology

In botany

More in Animals