Dates of Publication for Scientific Names and Synonyms
All scientific workers are familiar with, and frustrated by the changes that occur in the use of scientific names. The date for first publication of the description of a taxon is important in deciding on the validity of scientific names. Changes in names usually result:
 | from discovery of a valid, published name for a taxon which pre-dates a name (which becomes a synonym) in common usage. The earlier name, if valid, is said to have priority;
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| when the description of a new genus results in a new combination for a species better known in another genus, and;
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| when a name used for a taxon has been applied incorrectly and belongs to a different species. |
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