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Homonyms on EOL

Last updated 5 days ago

Please join the Homonym Hunters community and help us find all the homonyms on EOL!

This collection is for all kinds of homonyms:


Cross-code homonyms


Homonyms across nomenclatural codes (ICBN, ICZN, ICNB, ICTV) are allowed, so there are plenty of them. Example: Satyrium, the orchid genus and Satyrium, the butterfly genus.


Cross-rank homonyms


At least in zoological nomenclature, homonyms are allowed if they refer to groups at different ranks. Example: Polyphaga, the roach genus and Polyphaga, the beetle suborder.


Invalid homonyms


Within codes and ranks, homonyms are not allowed, so only one of the homonymous names can be valid/accepted. If EOL gets these invalid names from a provider, we will have a page for it. Example: Acanthurus, the surgeon fish genus and Acanthurus, the weevil genus.



Comprehensive lists of homonyms have also been compiled elsewhere:

Systema Naturae 2000: Homonyms

Wikispecies: List of valid homonyms



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