Principle of Typification
Encyclopedia
In zoology
, the Principle of Typification is one of the guiding principles of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
.
It states that any named taxon
, in the family group, genus group or species group, has (or should have) a name-bearing type
which allows the application of the name of the taxon to be objectively applied. The type does not define the taxon; this is done by a taxonomist, and an indefinite number of competing definitions can exist, side by side. Rather, a type is a point of reference; a name has a type, and a taxonomist (having defined his taxon) can inventory which existing types fall within the scope of his taxon. He or she can then use the rules in the Code to determine the valid name
for the taxon.
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, the Principle of Typification is one of the guiding principles 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...
.
It states that any named taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
, in the family group, genus group or species group, has (or should have) a name-bearing type
Name-bearing type
Under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature , the name-bearing type is the biological type that determines the application of a name. Each taxon regulated by the Code at least potentially has a name-bearing type. The name-bearing type can be either a type genus , type species , or type...
which allows the application of the name of the taxon to be objectively applied. The type does not define the taxon; this is done by a taxonomist, and an indefinite number of competing definitions can exist, side by side. Rather, a type is a point of reference; a name has a type, and a taxonomist (having defined his taxon) can inventory which existing types fall within the scope of his taxon. He or she can then use the rules in the Code to determine the valid name
Valid name (zoology)
In zoological nomenclature, the valid name of a taxon is the zoological name that is to be used for that taxon following the rules in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature . In other words: a valid name is the correct zoological name of a taxon.In contrast, an invalid name is a name...
for the taxon.