46 International Code of Nomenclature 



Rule 8. Sect. 1. Naming of Taxa 



The Botanical Code (Art. 37) has the following pertinent statement: 

 Two subdivisions of the same species, even if they are of different 

 rank, cannot bear the same subdivisional epithet, unless they are 

 based on the same type. If the earlier subdivisional name (ternary 

 combination) was validly published, the later one is illegitimate 

 and must be rejected. 



Zoological Rules. The Zoological Code includes all taxonomic 

 ranks lower than subspecies under the general term infrasiibspecific. 

 An infrasubspecific form is defined as any subdivision of a species 

 other than a subspecies, such as a "seasonal, sexual, or transitional 

 form, an aberration, or oj;her minority element within a species." 

 The Zoological Code also includes a number of Rules and Recom- 

 mendations relating to the use and recognition of infrasubspecific 

 names (epithets) . 



(1) Ti7ne of publication. The recognition of a distinct infrasub- 

 specific category of names is recent. The problem is faced as to 

 the allocation of names (epithets) as between subspecific and 

 infrasubspecific. Names given before 1951 and after 1950 are 

 treated separately. 



Publication before 1951. A name is to be regarded as that of 

 a subspecies if the author so indicated or if he did not indi- 

 cate whether he regarded it as a subspecies or an "infrasub- 

 specific" form. It is to be recognized as infrasubspecific only 

 if expressly so indicated. The ultimate test is whether the 

 name (epithet) was applied to a population (subspecific) or 

 to some minoritv element within the population (infrasub- 

 specific) . 



Publication after 1950. Names of less than specific rank, in- 

 cluding those proposed as varieties, are to be regarded as in- 

 frasubspecific unless definitely designated as the names of 

 subspecies. 



(2) Nomenclatural status. 



a. Names of species and subspecies on the one hand and the names 

 of infrasubspecific forms on the other constitute mutually inde- 

 pendent sections of nomenclature as regards both the Law of 

 Priority and the Law of Homonymy. 



b. A name of an infrasubspecific fomi is to be coordinate with the 

 names of all other infrasubspecific forms, but not with the names 

 of subspecies or species. 



c. A name originally published as that of an infrasubspecific form 

 may be elevated by a svibsequent reviser to the status of a sub- 

 specific name or a specific name. In that event it is to rank (in 

 its new status) , for purposes of priority, from the date on which 

 it was so elevated, and it is to be attributed to the author by 

 whom it was so elevated. 



