Standards: Scientific and common names - IUCN SSC

Standards: Scientific and common names

It is not essential to include the scientific or common name in the text. Indeed, the preference may be to avoid this, particularly in groups where the taxonomy is likely to change because this can result in a lot of editing if the scientific name has been cited repeatedly. Also, common names can be a bit random and taxa may be known by different common names in different areas of their range. However, if no scientific or common name is used in the text, please try to refer back to the taxon in some other way; for example, use phrases such as “This diurnal lizard …” or “This arboreal frog …”

Refer to the following guidelines if scientific and common names are being used within the documentation text:

1. Multiple common names

If the taxon has several common names, try to select one name only to use throughout the text (the one selected as the primary name).

2. Common name

If a common name exists, this can be used in place of the scientific name throughout the text. On the IUCN Red List website, the documentation text is displayed in the following order:

1. Taxonomic notes;
2. Rationale;
3. Distribution;
4. Population;
5. Habitat & Ecology;
6. Threats;
7. Conservation Actions.

Scientific names will, of course, be used in the taxonomic notes section. Elsewhere, it may be necessary to use the scientific name once only in the rationale, and thereafter use the common name without losing a logical flow to the species account.

In the first instance, use the common name first followed by the scientific name within brackets and in italics.

For example:

Preferred style

Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Try to avoid

Shortnose Sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum

Acipenser brevirostrum (Shortnose Sturgeon)

Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

3. Capitalization

Whether being included in the species account text or being entered into the Common Names field in SIS, common names should be capitalized. For example:

Preferred style

American Pika

Rufous-necked Hornbill

Try to avoid

American pika

Rufous-Necked Hornbill

rufous-necked hornbill

4. Repetitive use

If the taxon has a common name, the scientific name should be mentioned once only and thereafter only the common name should be used. For example:

Preferred style

The Corsican Hare (Lepus corsicanus) is legally protected in continental Italy because of its conservation status. However, problematic discrimination in the field between the Corsican Hare and the European Hare (Lepus europaeus), which is a game species, produces remarkable problems for effective protection. Since the Corsican Hare was recognized as a true species (in 1998), hare hunting has been banned in Sicily.

Try to avoid

Lepus corsicanus is legally protected in continental Italy because of its conservation status. However, the problematic discrimination in the field between the Lepus corsicanus and Lepus europaeus, which is a game species, produces remarkable problems for effective protection. Since Lepus corsicanus was recognized as a true species (in 1998), hare hunting has been banned in Sicily.

Exception

For some taxa, common names do not exist or are not universally recognised. In these cases, the first mention of the scientific name should be in full and thereafter the genus should be abbreviated to the first initial only. For example:

Preferred style

Calocedrus rupestris is rare in most provinces although it may be locally common in some areas. Population size is less than 2,500 mature individuals. Seedlings of C. rupestris are rare and hence recruitment is poor.

Try to avoid

Calocedrus rupestris is rare in most provinces although it may be locally common in some areas. Population size is less than 2,500 mature individuals. Seedlings of Calocedrus rupestris are rare and hence recruitment is poor.

5. Group

When referring to a group of species with the same generic scientific name, the abbreviation “spp.” may be used (e.g., “Varanus spp.” refers to more than one species of Varanus). The abbreviation “sp.” refers to only one species (e.g., “Varanus sp.” refers only one, unspecified species of Varanus).

6. Taxonomic level

When citing a taxonomic level higher than the genus, (i.e. family, order, class, division or phylum) no italicization is needed, but the term should be capitalized. For example:

Preferred style

This species formerly was included in the Parathelphusidae, but it has recently been reassigned to the Gecarcinucidae.

Try to avoid

This species formerly was included in the PARATHELPHUSIDAE, but it has recently been reassigned to the GECARCINUCIDAE.

This species formerly was included in the Parathelphusidae, but it has recently been reassigned to the Gecarcinucidae.

Reference document

IUCN. 2013. Documentation standards and consistency checks for IUCN Red List assessments and species accounts. Version 2. Adopted by the IUCN Red List Committee and IUCN SSC Steering Committee.