Homonym (biology)

For other uses, see Homonym.

In biology, a homonym is a name for a taxon that is identical in spelling to another such name, that belongs to a different taxon.

The rule in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is that the first such name to be published is the senior homonym and is to be used (it is "valid"); any others are junior homonyms and must be replaced with new names. It is, however, possible that if a senior homonym is archaic, and not in "prevailing usage," it may be declared a nomen oblitum and rendered unavailable, while the junior homonym is preserved as a nomen protectum.

For example:

• Cuvier proposed the genus Echidna in 1797 for the spiny anteater.
• However, Forster had already published the name Echidna in 1777 for a genus of moray eels.
• Forster's use thus has priority, with Cuvier's being a junior homonym.
• Illiger published the replacement name Tachyglossus in 1811.

Similarly, the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants specifies that the first published of two or more homonyms is to be used: a later homonym is "illegitimate" and is not to be used unless conserved (or sanctioned, in the case of fungi).

Example: the later homonym Myroxylon L.f. (1782), in the Leguminosae, is conserved against the earlier homonym Myroxylon J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (1775), in the Flacourtiaceae (now called Xylosma in the Salicaceae).

Under the botanical code, names that are similar enough that they are likely to be confused, are also considered to be homonymous (article 53.3). For example, Astrostemma Benth. (1880) is an illegitimate homonym of Asterostemma Decne. (1838). The zoological code has a set of spelling variations (article 58) that are considered to be identical.

Both Codes only consider taxa that are in their respective scope (animals for the ICZN; primarily plants for the ICBN). Therefore, if an animal taxon has the same name as a plant taxon, both names are valid. Such names are called parahomonyms. For example, the name Erica has been given to both a genus of spiders, Erica Peckham & Peckham, 1892, and to a genus of heaths, Erica L.