Nomina dubia and available names

Abstract

The availability or non-availability of a name is a question of historical fact. A name once made available under theInternational Code of Zoological Nomenclature can be rendered unavailable only by use of the plenary powers of the Commission. The question whether a name is anomen dubium or not is a matter of taxonomic judgement. The difficulty with the Sarcocystinae discussed by Frenkel et al. (1979) stems from the fact that, under the present provisions of theCode, it is not possible to designate for the species concerned types that will serve any useful function. The Commission is now considering changes to theCode proposed to remedy this defect in a general, legislative way. It will not, as a matter of general practice, entertain proposals for the suppression of names merely because they are considered to benomina dubia. The application submitted by Professor Frenkel and his colleagues will nevertheless be published in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature so that the Commission can, if necessary, deliver a ruling on it before the new edition of theCode has appeared.