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Intaxonomy,anundescribed taxonis ataxon(for example, aspecies) that has been discovered, but not yet formally described and named. The variousNomenclature Codesspecify the requirements for a new taxon to be validly described and named. Until such adescriptionhas been published, the taxon has no formal or official name, although a temporary, informal name is often used. Apublishedscientific namemay not fulfil the requirements of the Codes for various reasons. For example, if the taxon was not adequatelydescribed,its name is called anomen nudum.It is possible for a taxon to be "undescribed" for an extensive period of time, even if unofficial descriptions are published.
An undescribed species may be referred to with the genus name, followed by "sp.", but thisabbreviationis also used to label specimens or images that are too incomplete to be identified at the specieslevel.In some cases, there is more than one undescribed species in a genus. In this case, these are often referred to by a number or letter. In the shark genusPristiophorus,for example, there were, for some time, four undescribed species, informally namedPristiophorussp. A, B, C and D. (In 2008, sp. A was described asPristiophorus peroniensisand sp. B asP. delicatus.) When a formal description for species C or D is published, its temporary name will be replaced with a properbinomial name.
Provisional names in bacteriology
editInbacteriology,a valid publication of a name requires the deposition of the bacteria in a Bacteriology Culture Collection. Species for which this is impossible cannot receive a valid binomial name; these species are classified asCandidatus.
Provisional names in botany
editA provisional name for a species may consist of the number or of some other designation of aspecimenin aherbariumor other collection. It may also consist of the genus name followed by such a specimen identifier or by a provisionalspecific epithetwhich is enclosed by quotation marks. In the latter case, theauthor citationmay be replaced by theLatintermineditusorined.,meaning "unpublished". As of 2013, many species of theflowering plantgenusPolysciascan be found in thescientific literatureunder such a designation.[1]An enquoted name, however, is not necessarily unpublished. It may be anillegitimate namethat has not yet been replaced by acorrect name.For example, thename"Endressia" (sensuWhiffin) was published in 2007 for a genus in family Monimiaceae, but is an illegitimate homonym ofEndressiaJ.Gay in family Apiaceae. In 2010, it was noted as illegitimate, but still used with quotation marks.[2]This name was replaced withPendressiain 2018.[3]
See also
edit- Glossary of scientific naming
- Candidatus,an interim taxonomic status for yet-to-be-cultured organisms
- Species description
- Nomenclature codes
References
edit- ^PolysciasinTropicos.(SeeExternal linksbelow).
- ^Susanne S. Renner, Joeri S. Strijk, Dominique Strasberg, and Christophe Thébaud. 2010. "Biogeography of the Monimiaceae (Laurales): a role for East Gondwana and long-distance dispersal, but not West Gondwana".Journal of Biogeography37(7):1227-1238.doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02319.x
- ^International Plant Names Index.Pendressia.Retrieved 2020-08-26.