Nomenclator Generum

Keith Edkins Nomenclator Generum pages

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These pages started as an attempt to make the content of the Nomenclator Zoologicus (Neave et al. 1939–1994) available in a fairly user-friendly form. Discoveries of other data sources led me eventually to expand it to show all genera within the scope of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), or the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP). Nowadays its contents are more-or-less synchronised with the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG), for which I have been an editor since September 2025.

Publication of a name under one of the nomenclatural codes does not in general preclude the reuse of the same name for a different organism under one of the others. However there are cases where an organism is described under one code but is later regarded as belonging to another - for instance Protozoa and fossil taxa - or even thought not to be a lifeform at all, but still blocking the use of its name under its original code. The codes all have similar cautions about cross-code clashes:

ICZN (Recommendation 1A): "Authors intending to establish new genus-group names are urged to consult the Index Nominum Genericorum (Plantarum) and the Approved List of Bacterial Names to determine whether identical names have been established under the International Codes of Nomenclature relevant to those lists and, if so, to refrain from publishing identical zoological names."
ICN (Recommendation 54A): "Authors naming new taxa under this Code should, as far as is practicable, avoid using such names as already exist for zoological and prokaryotic taxa."
ICNP (Principle 2): "The nomenclature of prokaryotes is not independent of botanical and zoological nomenclature. When naming new taxa in the rank of genus or higher, due consideration is to be given to avoiding names which are regulated by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants."
- In particular, Cyanobacteria enter into homonymy considerations with both the ICN and the ICNP.
Note also ICNP Rule 10a (part): As from January 2001, newly proposed names must not be later homonyms of names in use in botany or zoology. (Emphasis added)

Names governed by the different nomenclatural Codes are separated and colour-coded as follows:

Names in black: genera governed by the ICZN.
Names in green: genera governed by the ICN (except Cyanobacteria).
Names in purple: genera governed by the ICNP.
Names in brown: names whose Code placement is uncertain (Protozoa, fossils); or are no longer thought to represent living organisms. If raising a new genus with one of these names it will be necessary to check its history of Code placement
Names in red: names believed to be invalid, for instance nomina nuda or incorrect spellings; or which have been placed on the Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Generic Names in Zoology with annotations which mean they are not considered for purposes of honomyny. These are marked NZ, IRMNG, ICZN, OS according as the reason for rejection is derived from the cleaned Nomenclator Zoologicus, the IRMNG, the ICZN Index, or other sources. To remove these items from the display, click this button:

Junior homonyms within the same code are shown indented with the genus name in Italics rather than Bold.

Names have been modernised in accordance with the Codes: all accents and apostrophes removed, and hyphens removed from Animals, Prokaryotes, and fossil Plants. The symbol † indicates a genus known only from fossils - this information is not comprehensively available and the absence of this symbol should not be taken as indicating a taxon is extant.

Other databases are available

On-line resources which have informed the compilation of IRMNG (and hence these pages) may contain additional information (particularly on species) or updated taxonomy. This is a list of some of the major obes.

General databases and publications:

Registers associated with the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS):

Registers associated with the Species File Group:

Aphid Species File
World Auchenorryncha Database
Blattodea Species File cockroaches & termites
Dermaptera Species File
Lygaeoidea Species File
Orthoptera Species File
Phasmida Species File stick & leaf insects
Plecoptera Species File stoneflies
Psocodea lice & booklice
Miscellaneous Insecta Species File Archaeognatha (Microcoryphia), Coleorrhyncha, Embioptera, Notoptera (Grylloblattodea and Mantophasmatodea), Zoraptera and Zygentoma (Thysanura) and the extinct groups Archaeorthoptera, Cnemidolestida, Eoblattida, Permopsocida and Reculida

Independent registers - Arthropods:

Independent registers - others: