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Issue: Vol. 1541 No. 1: 2 Aug. 2007
Type: Article
Published: 2007-08-02
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1541.1.4
Page range: 41–48
Abstract views: 76
PDF downloaded: 5

The genitive of species-group scientific names formed from personal names

22 Karenia Street, Bray Park, QLD 4500, Australia
Wildlife Conservation Society Asia Program. Current address: East Redham Farm, Pilning,Bristol BS35 4JG, U.K
Mammal Group, Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, U.K. (address for correspondence)
Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
Research Associate, Mammalogy, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, U.S.A
Code emendation genitive gender nomenclature personal name sex species spelling suffix taxonomy

Abstract

To avoid confusion with citations of a generic name and its author, the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature encourages specific names based on personal names to be instigated in the genitive case. The Latin genitive suffix also indicates the gender and singular or plural state of the modified proper noun. Some zoologists have interpreted Article 31 as stipulating that these latter should always correspond with the gender and singular or plural state of the person or persons commemorated. They believe the original spelling is justifiably emended if, in their view, the author or authors have employed the incorrect suffix. We contend that the gender and singular or plural state of a noun so employed is part of its etymology and unregulated by the Code. The author's selection of suffix should be respected and the original spelling preserved. We offer a rewording of Article 31 to remedy this ambiguity.

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