Nomen oblitum
Encyclopedia
A nomen oblitum is a technical term, used in zoological nomenclature, for a particular kind of disused scientific name.
In its present meaning, the nomen oblitum came into being with the fourth, 1999, edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
. After 1 January 2000, a scientific name may be formally declared to be a nomen oblitum when it has not been used as a valid name within the scientific community since 1899, and when it is either a senior synonym
(there is also a more recent name which applies to the same taxon, and which is in common use) or a homonym (it is spelled the same as another name, which is in common use). Once it has formally been declared to be a nomen oblitum, the disused name is to be 'forgotten'. By the same act, the junior name must be declared to be a nomen protectum; from then on, it takes precedence.
In the first and second editions of the zoological Code (valid between 6 November 1961 and 1 January 1973), the term was also used, but names then indicated as such do not have the same status. A notable example of this previous use is that of Scrotum humanum.
In its present meaning, the nomen oblitum came into being with the fourth, 1999, edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is a widely accepted convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific naming of organisms treated as animals...
. After 1 January 2000, a scientific name may be formally declared to be a nomen oblitum when it has not been used as a valid name within the scientific community since 1899, and when it is either a senior synonym
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
(there is also a more recent name which applies to the same taxon, and which is in common use) or a homonym (it is spelled the same as another name, which is in common use). Once it has formally been declared to be a nomen oblitum, the disused name is to be 'forgotten'. By the same act, the junior name must be declared to be a nomen protectum; from then on, it takes precedence.
In the first and second editions of the zoological Code (valid between 6 November 1961 and 1 January 1973), the term was also used, but names then indicated as such do not have the same status. A notable example of this previous use is that of Scrotum humanum.