The
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (
ICZN or
ICZN Code) is a widely accepted
convention in
zoology that rules the formal
scientific naming of
organisms treated as
animals. The rules principally regulate:
- How names are correctly established in the frame of binominal nomenclature
- Which name must be used in case of name conflicts
- How scientific literature must cite names
Zoological nomenclature is independent of other systems of nomenclature, for example
botanical nomenclature. This implies that animals can have the same generic names as plants.