Genus: Difference between revisions

'''Genus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|iː|n|ə|s}} {{plural form}}: '''genera''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|ɛ|n|ər|ə|}}) is a [[taxonomic rank]] above [[species]] and below [[family (taxonomy)|family]] as used in the [[biological classification]] of [[extant taxon|living]] and [[fossil]] organisms as well as [[Virus classification#ICTV classification|virus]]es.<ref name = "ICTV">{{Cite web|url=https://ictv.global/taxonomy|title=ICTV Taxonomy|date=2017|access-date=May 29, 2018|publisher=[[International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses]]|archive-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320103754/https://talk.ictvonline.org/taxonomy|url-status=live}}</ref> In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above [[species]] and below [[family (taxonomy)|family]]. In [[binomial nomenclature]], the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus.

The scientific name (or the scientific epithet) of a genus is also called the '''generic name'''; in modern style guides and science, it is always capitalised. It plays a fundamental role in [[binomial nomenclature]], the system of naming [[organism]]s, where it is combined with the scientific name of a [[species]]: see [[Botanical name]] and [[Specific name (zoology)]].<ref>{{cite book |author=International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature |author-link= |date=1999 |title=International Code of Zoological Nomenclature |url=https://www.iczn.org/the-code/the-code-online/ |location=London |publisher=The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature |page= |isbn=0 -85301 -006 -4 |access-date=2023-11-10 |archive-date=2021-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903062842/https://www.iczn.org/the-code/the-code-online/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iapt-taxon.org/nomen/main.php?page=art3 |title=International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants – Melbourne Code |date=2012 |website=IAPT-Taxon.org |access-date=2023-11-10 |archive-date=2020-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010230658/https://www.iapt-taxon.org/nomen/main.php?page=art3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Consequently, there will be more available names than valid names at any point in time,; which names are currently{{When|date=August 2023}} in use depending on the judgement of taxonomists in either combining taxa described under multiple names, or splitting taxa which may bring available names previously treated as synonyms back into use. "Unavailable" names in zoology comprise names that either were not published according to the provisions of the ICZN Code, e.g., incorrect original or subsequent spellings, names published only in a thesis, and generic names published after 1930 with no type species indicated.<ref name="Hawksworth2010">{{cite book|author=D. L. Hawksworth|title=Terms Used in Bionomenclature: The Naming of Organisms and Plant Communities : Including Terms Used in Botanical, Cultivated Plant, Phylogenetic, Phytosociological, Prokaryote (bacteriological), Virus, and Zoological Nomenclature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qky7_6-UcQQC&pg=PA10|year=2010|publisher=GBIF|isbn=978-87-92020-09-3|pages=1–215}}</ref> According to "Glossary" section of the zoological Code, suppressed ''names'' (per published "Opinions" of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature) remain available but cannot be used as the valid name for a taxon; however, the names published in suppressed ''works'' are made unavailable via the relevant Opinion dealing with the work in question.