40 International Code of Nomenclature 



Recommendations 6a, 6b. Sect. 1. Naming of Taxa 



RECOMMENDATION 6a. When it is desired to indicate the name of a sub- 

 genus in connection with the name of a species, the name of the subgenus 

 may be placed in parentheses between the two. 



ANNOTATION 



Recornini'iidatiou 6a. This reconmiendation is essentially that of 

 the Botanical Code and agrees with the corresjDonding rule in the 

 Zoological Code. The Bacteriological Code (like the Zoological) 

 recognizes the subgenus as the single category between genus and 

 species; the Botanical Code recognizes several intermediate categories, 

 for example, subgenus, section, subsection, etc. The corresponding 

 Recommendation of the Botanical Code states: 



When it is desired to indicate the name of a subgenus or section 

 (or other subdivision to which a particular species belongs) in 

 connection with the generic name and specific epithet, the name of 

 the subdivision is placed in parentheses between the two (when 

 necessary, the rank of the subdivision is also indicated) . 

 Examples: Lactobacillus {Thermobacterium) caucasicus; Rickettsia 

 (Rickettsia) protoazekii; Rickettsia {Dermacentroxe7ius) rickettsii. 



RECOMMENDATION 6b. In forming specific epithets bacteriologists should 

 attend to the following recommendations: 



(1) To choose a specific epithet which, in general, gives some indication 

 of the appearance, the characters, the origin, the history, or the 

 properties of the species. If taken from the name of a person, it 

 usually recalls the name of the one who discovered or described it 

 or was in some way concerned with it. 



(2) To avoid those which are very long and difficult to pronounce. 



(3) To avoid those which express a character common to all or nearly 

 all the species of a genus. 



(4/ To avoid using the names of little-known or very restricted localities, 



unless the species is quite local. 

 (5) To avoid, in the same genus, epithets which are very much alike, 



especially those which differ only in their last letters. 

 (6} Not to adopt unpublished names found in authors' notes, attributing 



them to their authors, unless these have approved publication. 

 (7) To avoid compound specific epithets which include word stems from 



two or more languages (epitheta hybrida). 



