The Code (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature) list several types
of names. Those of interest to you are AVAILABLE and VALID ones (and their
counterparts).


A name is AVAILABLE if it is correctly introduced in the literature (valid
description, type material etc....). Thus, when a name is correctly
introduced, the name is AVAILABLE. It means that it compete in priority
with all other AVAILABLE names for the species/genus (synonyms), and with
all AVAILABLE homonyms.
The criteria of correctness have slightly changed with the date of
publication but the general spirit of the code holds valid thru the time.
Each taxon (species or genus group) is and/or must be linked to a single
VALID name. That is there must be a unique VALID name for a given taxon.

Thus, to be precise, not "all of the synonyms are valid names" -but all are
available - but only the single name to be used for that species (the
oldest if it is not a junior homonym).



=========================================================
Marco Oliverio - Evolutionary Biology PhD
Research Scientist

Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo
Viale dell'Universita' 32
I-00185 Roma   ITALY

phone  +39.06.49914307
FAX    +39.06.4958259
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