 | |
| Abbreviation | ICZN |
|---|---|
| Formation | 18 September 1895; 130 years ago (1895-09-18) |
| Type | International non-governmental organization |
| Location | |
Region served | Worldwide |
Official language | English, French |
Main organ | Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature |
| Affiliations | International Union of Biological Sciences |
| Website | iczn |
TheInternational Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is an organization dedicated to "achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals". Founded in 1895, it currently comprises 26 commissioners from 20 countries.[1]
The ICZN is governed by the "Constitution of the ICZN", which is usually published together with theICZN Code.[2]
Members are elected by the Section of Zoological Nomenclature,[3] established by theInternational Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS).
The regular term of service of a member of the Commission is six years. Members can be re-elected up to a total of three full six-year terms in a row. After 18 continuous years of elected service, a break of at least three years is prescribed before the member can stand again for election.[4]
Since 2014, the work of the Commission is supported by a small secretariat based at theNational University of Singapore, inSingapore. Previously, the secretariat was based in London and funded by theInternational Trust for Zoological Nomenclature.[5] The Commission assists the zoological community "through generation and dissemination of information on the correct use of the scientific names of animals".[1]
The ICZN publishes theInternational Code of Zoological Nomenclature (usually referred to as "the Code" or "the ICZN Code"), a widely acceptedconvention containing the rules for the formalscientific naming of allorganisms that are treated asanimals. New editions of the Code are elaborated by the Editorial Committee appointed by the Commission.[6] The current (4th) edition of the Code (1999) was edited by seven people,[7] with work on the next (5th) edition underway.
The Commission also provides rulings on individual problems brought to its attention, as arbitration may be necessary in contentious cases, where strict adherence to the Code would interfere with stability of usage (e.g., seeconserved name). These rulings are published in theBulletin of Zoological Nomenclature.[1] Starting in 2017, theBulletin became an online-only journal and joinedBioOne, which hosts volumes 65 (2008) onwards of theBulletin.[8]
