Priority (biology)

"[5] Basically, it is a scientific procedure to eliminate duplicate or multiple names for a species, for which Lucien Marcus Underwood called it "the principle of outlaw in nomenclature".

When Carl Linnaeus laid the foundations of modern nomenclature, he offered no recognition of prior names.

The first sign of recognition of priority came in 1813, when A. P. de Candolle laid out some principles of good nomenclatural practice.

In 1891, Otto Kuntze, one of the most vocal proponents of this position, did just that, publishing over 30000 new combinations in his Revisio Generum Plantarum.

In doing so, many zoologists tried to dig up the oldest possible scientific names as a result of which proper and consistent names prevailing at the time including those by the eminent zoologists like Louis Agassiz, Georges Cuvier, Charles Darwin, Thomas Huxley, Richard Owen, etc.

Scientific organisations tried to established practical rules to changing names, but not a uniform system.

[11] The committee's report written by Strickland was implemented as the Rules of Zoological Nomenclature,[12] and popularly known as the Stricklandian Code.

According to the ICZN preamble:Priority of publication is a basic principle of zoological nomenclature; however, under conditions prescribed in the Code its application may be modified to conserve a long-accepted name in its accustomed meaning.

Special exceptions are made for nine families and one subfamily for which alternative names are permitted (see Art.

Conservation may be avoided entirely in zoology as these names may fall in the formal category of nomen oblitum.

Sanzinia madagascariensis was moved to the genus Boa . To avoid having the same name as another snake, it was renamed Boa manditra . On further investigation, it was established that the move had been incorrect, so the original name was reinstated as the valid name .
The North American wildflower genus Agalinis was published in 1837, but for a long time, it was included in the ambiguously named genus Gerardia . In 1961, the problem with the name Gerardia was resolved, and Agalinis came into common use. However, three relatively unknown names for the genus had been published earlier: Virgularia Ruiz & Pav. in 1794, Chytra C.F.Gaertn. in 1807, and Tomanthera Raf. in 1837, of which Virgularia would have priority. [ 7 ] These three names have since been rejected in favour of Agalinis . [ 8 ]