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What author citation and abbreviation does (would) a monarch or a crown prince get after publishing a new taxon name?

Biology Asked on November 13, 2021

Even though taxonomic rules appear to be silent about this (I’ve checked ICN Art. 46 and ICZN Art. 51), author citations, as well as abbreviations, are usually based on a surname. However, monarchs and crown princes don’t have surnames per se, at least in the Western culture. Even though they have dynasty names, they may only get referred to by their personal name and dynasty name used as (instead of) a surname after the monarchy was overthrown, and for our purpose let’s assume otherwise.

Has there ever been a case when such a person, while practicing biology (either as a hobby or professionally) published a name for a new taxon and there was a need to make up an author citation/abbreviation? If yes, how was it (they) made? If no, what would be an author citation/abbreviation for someone like, e. g., British Prince William?

One Answer

I know nothing about taxonomic nomenclature, but my gut feeling on this matter seems to be correct — the Christian or given name is used. The “List of organisms named after famous people” on Wikipedia includes:

Callicebus bernhardi — Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld

Megaselia mithridatesi — Mithridates VI of Pontus

Mitra kamehameha — King Kamehameha I

Ornithoptera alexandrae — Alexandra of Denmark

Paroxyna cleopatra — Cleopatra VII Philopator

Pinus montezumae — Moctezuma II

Victoria Lindl. — Queen Victoria

However this is not always unqualified — perhaps because he is not the monarch?:

Hyloscirtus princecharlesi — Charles, Prince of Wales

and there are exceptions:

Lepidoteuthis grimaldii — Albert I, Prince of Monaco (born Albert Grimaldi)

Answered by David on November 13, 2021

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