J.P. Euzéby: List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature

Home page of the first edition of "List of Bacterial Names with Standing in Nomenclature"
(now List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature)  as it appeared on the Internet on January 28, 1998

List of Bacterial Names
with Standing in Nomenclature
 

 The complete list can be downloaded from an anonymous FTP site: ftp://ftp.cict.fr/pub/bacterio

Introduction

There is no official classification of bacteria, but there is an official nomenclature. In 1980 the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names set a new starting point in bacterial nomenclature. The Approved Lists of Bacterial Names contain 2,212 names of genera, species or subspecies, and 124 names of higher taxa.

The International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (1990 Revision) is the cornerstone of bacterial nomenclature. It states that the name of a taxon is validly published, and therefore has standing in nomenclature:

- if it is cited in the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names,

- or if it is published in papers in the International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology,

-or if it is announced in a Validation List (Validation Lists are lists published in the International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology validating bacterial names effectively published elsewhere).

The List of Bacterial Names with Standing in Nomenclature includes, alphabetically and chronologically, the official nomenclature of bacteria and the nomenclatural changes as cited in the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names, or published, or validated in the International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. It is extensively annotated to clarify the Rules which govern the scientific nomenclature. Some nomenclatural changes are suggested. However these changes are not formal propositions because it is necessary to maintain stability of bacterial nomenclature.

The names non validly published are not cited even if they are of great importance. For example, "Haemophilus somnus" Bailie 1969 (a taxon of veterinary interest) is not on the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names, has not been validly published since 1 January 1980, and therefore is not included on the List of Bacterial Names with Standing in Nomenclature.

The List of Bacterial Names with Standing in Nomenclature will be updated with the publication of each new issue of the International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology.

The author is grateful to the "Centre Interuniversitaire de Calcul de Toulouse", especially to J.P. Gallou, for excellent technical assistance.