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Type: Correspondence
Published: 2013-09-10
Page range: 597–600
Abstract views: 30
PDF downloaded: 2

Elucidating Article 45.6 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature: A dichotomous key for the determination of subspecific or infrasubspecific rank

available name binomen ICZN subspecies trinomen

Abstract

We present an overview of the difficulties sometimes encountered when determining whether a published name following a binomen is available or infrasubspecific and unavailable, following Article 45.6 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN, 1999).  We propose a dichotomous key that facilitates this determination and as a preferable method, given the convoluted and subordinate discussion, exceptions, and qualifications laid out in ICZN (1999: 49–50).  Examples and citations are provided for each case one can encounter while making this assessment of availability status of names following the binomen.