Welcome

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The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) acts as adviser and arbiter for the zoological community by generating and disseminating information on the correct use of the scientific names of animals.

The ICZN is responsible for producing the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature - a set of rules for the naming of animals and the resolution of nomenclatural problems

Image: Cyanea annasethe (Haeckel, 1879). Complete version of image used on the cover of the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. More details.

The Code

The ICZN has responsibility for producing the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature - a set of rules for the naming of animals and the resolution of nomenclatural problems

The Bulletin

The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature publishes Cases made to the Commission, Comments on Cases by the zoological community and Opinions (rulings made by the Commission).

Latest News

Title	Post date
List of open cases updated The list of open cases has been updated. -Full Story	27/07/2010
Education & Outreach pages The Education and Outreach pages have recently been redesigned. It is now possible to view a slideshow of the PowerPoint files using SlideShare before downloading the original PowerPoint file. An example slideshow is given below. -Full Story	22/06/2010
Nomenclature courses from EDIT Commissioner Miguel Alonso-Zarazaga will be teaching his well-known course on Zoological Nomenclature as part of the EDIT offerings of short courses on taxonomic methods. The zoological nomenclature course will be taught in Madrid July 30 - Aug 1. It will be taught completely in English and is limited to 22 participants. -Full Story	01/06/2010

Title

Post date

List of open cases updated

The list of open cases has been updated.

-Full Story

27/07/2010

Education & Outreach pages

The Education and Outreach pages have recently been redesigned. It is now possible to view a slideshow of the PowerPoint files using SlideShare before downloading the original PowerPoint file.

An example slideshow is given below.

-Full Story

22/06/2010

Nomenclature courses from EDIT

Commissioner Miguel Alonso-Zarazaga will be teaching his well-known course on Zoological Nomenclature as part of the EDIT offerings of short courses on taxonomic methods.

The zoological nomenclature course will be taught in Madrid July 30 - Aug 1. It will be taught completely in English and is limited to 22 participants.

-Full Story

01/06/2010

Why is the ICZN important?

	Field of interest
	Biodiversity Studies The term ‘biodiversity’ coined, in 1985, as a contraction of ‘biological diversity’ refers to the variety of life in all its forms, levels and combinations: including ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity. With the current international focus on the global crisis in biodiversity, the importance of the Commission’s work to ensure that the correctness of the scientific names of animals is now of the highest priority.
	Conservation International conventions and national or regional legislation concerning threatened or endangered animals specify the species or subspecies name of the animals that the law intends to protect. Thereafter, protection goes with the name rather than the endangered species itself. Any subsequent change in name could therefore affect conservation measures. The Commission often acts to protect the names of endangered species.
	Medical & Veterinary Research Leucocytozoonosis is a disease caused by protozoan blood parasites of the genus Leucocytozoon that is mainly transmitted by the bite of various species of black fly (Simuliidae). Both wild and domestic bird species are susceptible to infection with Leucocytozoon species, including: chickens (L. caulleryi), ducks & geese (L. simondi), turkeys (L. smithi), pigeons & doves (L. marchouxi) and raptors (L. ziemanni and L. toddi). There has long been confusion in the authorship and date of the generic name, and the name of its type species. This uncertainty has been removed on behalf of the veterinary and pharmaceutical professions by a Commission ruling. [2001]

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