Scientific name of a species in which both parts of the name have the same spelling
For the more general linguistics concept, see Reduplication.
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations.(June 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
A tautonym is a scientific name of a species in which both parts of the name have the same spelling, such as Rattus rattus. The first part of the name is the name of the genus and the second part is referred to as the specific epithet in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants and the specific name in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
Tautonymy (i.e., the usage of tautonymous names) is permissible in zoological nomenclature (see List of tautonyms for examples). In past editions of the zoological code, the term tautonym was used, but it has now been replaced by the more inclusive "tautonymous names"; these include trinomial names for subspecies such as Gorilla gorilla gorilla and Bison bison bison.
Tautonyms can be formed when animals are given scientific names for the first time, or when they are reclassified and given new scientific names.[1] An example of the former is the hidden mirror skipper of Brazil with the scientific name Speculum speculum, which comes from a Latin word for "mirror" in reference to the shiny, mirror-like coloring on its wings.[2][3] An example of the latter is Nombe nombe, an extinct kangaroo from the late Pleistocene epoch found in Papua New Guinea's Nombe Rockshelter that was classified as Protemnodon nombe until 2022 when it was reclassified in light of a more recent review of the animal's dental attributes.[4] Animals with tautonymous names can also be reclassified so that they no longer have tautonymous names, as was the case with Polyspila polyspila (now Calligrapha polyspila).[5]
For animals, a tautonym implicitly (though not always) indicates that the species is the type species of its genus.[6] This can also be indicated by a species name with the specific epithet typus or typicus,[7] although more commonly the type species is designated another way.
Regarding other living organisms, tautonyms were prohibited in bacteriological nomenclature from 1947 until 1975, but they are now permitted for all bacteria and prokaryotes.[8] Tautonyms are prohibited by the codes of nomenclature for botany and for cultivated plants, but they are not prohibited by the code of nomenclature for viruses.[9]
^Stephan, Michael J. (2023). Tautonyms. BookBaby. p. 11. ISBN 979-8350910759.
^Stephan 2023, p. 149.
^Austin, George T. (2008). "Hesperiidae of Rondonia, Brazil: A New Genus and Species of Pyrginae". Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 62 (1): 36–39.
A tautonym is a scientific name of a species in which both parts of the name have the same spelling, such as Rattus rattus. The first part of the name...
The following is a list of tautonyms: zoological names of species consisting of two identical words (the generic name and the specific name have the same...
The following is a list of triple tautonyms: zoological names of species consisting of three identical words (the generic name, the specific name and...
expressions Pleonasm Redundancy (disambiguation) Tautological (disambiguation) Tautonym, a scientific name of a species in which both parts of the name have the...
only living member of the genus Chanos.. The repeating scientific name (tautonym) is from Greek khanos (χάνος ‘mouth’). The species has many common names...
the two parts of a binomial name to be the same (such a name is called a tautonym), whereas the ICZN, the animal code, does. Thus the American bison has...
Persicaria maculosa. The name "Persicaria persicaria" cannot be used because tautonyms – binomial names that use the same word for both the genus and the species...
(botany) an identical name based on the same type, but published later tautonym, a repeated name, for example Bubo bubo, Lutra lutra. Permitted in zoology...
repeat the generic name (a designation formed by such repetition is a tautonym)." Bailey LH. 1930. Three discussions in Cucurbitaceae. Gentes Herbarum...
it violates the International Code of Nomenclature barring the use of tautonyms in botanical nomenclature. The corrected name Lycopersicon lycopersicum...
for the genus name). For the species name, he used a different name, as tautonyms (repetition of exactly the same name in the genus and species) are not...
having continued to follow Linnaeus. The name Capreolus capreolus is a tautonym. Roe deer populations gradually become somewhat larger as one moves further...
Germain de Lacépède moved the species to the genus Milvus creating the tautonym. Two subspecies are recognised: M. m. milvus (Linnaeus, 1758) – Europe...
occasionally used include cloning, doubling, duplication, repetition, and tautonym when it is used in biological taxonomies, such as Bison bison. This article...
Sparidae. The common dentex has the binomial Dentex dentex which is a tautonym. Dentex means "with large teeth", an allusion to the rows of canine-like...
various methods have produced partial results to the 10-square problem: Tautonyms Since 1921, 10-squares have been constructed from reduplicated words and...
Ontario, Canada (Big River River – Algonquian) Mekong River - A triple tautonym. 'Mae' in Thai is an abbreviation for "river", while 'khong' is an old...
names with the same word as both the genus and the specific epithet (tautonyms) are forbidden. An alternative basionym must be sought or a new name created...
creating the new and invalid combination Aniculus typicus. Despite being a tautonym, the double name Aniculus aniculus is valid and acceptable under zoological...
the maxillaries as "thick, enlarged, and as hard as stone". It is not a tautonym as Swainson unnecessarily renamed Cuvier's Pagellus lithognathus as L....
Kew. Retrieved 2023-04-21. Moldenke, Harold N. (1932). "A Discussion of Tautonyms". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 59 (3): 142. doi:10.2307/2480467...
Global Information