Homonyms on EOL
Last updated 8 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