The Scientific Name of the Common Cod

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

/Vnyone using the voluminous literature on the common cod of the Atlantic J ~ V. Ocean soon becomes aware of inconsistency in the scientific nomenclature applied to this species. The purpose of this paper is to point out the causes of confusion and to indicate the proper name to be used under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. In the 10th edition of the Systema Naturae (the starting point of formal zoological nomenclature), LINNAEUS described the genus Gadus on page 251. Following this description there are brief descriptions of 15 species which LINNAEUS placed in Gadus. At the top of page 252 is species number 2 — callarias, from European and Baltic seas. Directly beneath callarias on the same page is species number 3 — morhua (changed to morrhua by many later authors) from European seas. Both G. callarias and G. morhua were recognized as valid species until 1838 when FRIES (in FRIES, EKSTROM and SUNDEVALL, 1836-48) realized that the two names were applied to the same species. The name G. callarias had been used for young specimens and for the stunted population in the Baltic, while adults had been called G. morhua. When two names apply to the same species, only one has priority, and it is this name alone which may validly be used for the species. The other name becomes a synonym, though as we shall see, it still remains available for use. In most instances of this nature there is little difficulty in determining priority. It is simply a matter of picking the first properly proposed name. In the case of the cod, however, the names callarias and morhua appear not only in the same volume, but on the very same page, and it is this fact which is the root of the difficulty. The International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature state that when two species of the same date are united to form a single species, the name selected by the first reviser shall apply as the name of the species. It is recommended, however, that the name which occurs first in the publication be chosen if possible. FRIES was the first to synonymize morhua and callarias and is thus the first reviser. He chose the name morrhua, and although he did not apply the principle of page precedence, his choice is valid under the present rules.