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Electronic Dissemination and Zoological Nomenclature...
Standards for Scientific names are set by the International Code of
Zoological Nomenclature. To be valid (correct) a scientific name
must be published. The criteria of what publication means in
reference to scientific names are established in the Code. These
criteria are set to ensure that permanent, identical copies of the
associated information with a scientific name are freely and widely
available to all. Unfortunately, electronic dissemination of
information on the World-Wide-Web currently does not ensure either
permanency nor identical copies. Hence, new scientific names and
other nomenclatural actions must be first published in another
medium, such as printed works. Under the current Code (1985, 3rd
edition) CD-ROM is a permanent medium which ensure numerous
identical copies. However, as CD-ROM is not method that employs
ink on paper in conventional printing, to be considered as a
publication in the meaning of the Code a statement must be included
statements that 1) declaring the work on the CD-ROM to be a
scientific publication, 2) the new names and nomenclatural acts
within it are intended for permanent, public, scientific record,
and 3) the edition was produced in numerous, simultaneously
obtainable copies. See the International Code of Zoological
Nomenclature, Article 8.
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Content by F. Christian
Thompson
Please send questions and comments to Chris Thompson.
Last Updated: November
23, 2005 by Irina
Brake
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