Longest and shortest prokaryotic names
Updated: 1 October 2018
Recommendattion 6(1) of the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision) states the following: Avoid names or epithets that are very long or difficult to pronounce.
In spite of Recommendation 6 there are some long genus names and specific epithets. The longest and shortest prokaryotic names are listed below.
|
Names |
Genus names |
Specific epithets |
|
Forty-two letters
Forty letters
Thirty-nine letters
Thirty-eight letters
Thirty-seven letters
|
Twenty-four letters
Twenty-three letters
Twenty-two letters
|
Twenty-six letters
Twenty-four letters
Twenty-three letters
Twenty-two letters
Twenty-one letters
|
|
Names |
Genus names |
Specific epithets |
|
Nine letters
Ten letters
Eleven letters
|
Four letters
Five letters
Six letters
|
Three letters
Four letters
|