An erroneous or
improperly applied scientific
name, as a new name applied to a
taxon previously
appropriately named, or a specific name previously applied to another
taxon;
Employed in taxonomy in
replacement of the correct scientific names of certain natural groups (usually
genera,
species, and
subspecies or higher
taxonomic group too ) that are considered as determined by
priority. Synonyms are the relationships between different names applied to
the same taxon a chronological list of taxonomic names which have been
applied to a single taxon, including
authors and
dates.
Once
two named species are discovered to be of the same species, the older
species name is typically retained, and the newer species name
discarded, a process called synonymization, or convivially, as lumping.
Dividing a taxon into multiple, often new,
taxon is called
splitting. Taxonomists are often referred to as
"lumpers" or "splitters"
by their colleagues, depending on their personal approach to recognizing
differences or commonalities between organisms.
