A nomen oblitum (Latin for "forgotten name") is a technical term, used in zoology. In its present meaning it came into being with the fourth, 1999, edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
After 1 January 2000, a scientific name may be formally declared to be a nomen oblitum when it has not been used in the scientific community since 1899, and when it is either a senior synonym (there is also a more recent name which applies to the same taxon, and which is in common use) or a homonym (it is spelled the same as another name, which is in common use). Once its has formally been declared be a nomen oblitum, the disused name is to be 'forgotten'. By the same act, the junior name must be declared to be a nomen protectum; from then on it takes precedence,
In the first and second editions of the zoological Code (valid between 6 November 1961 and 1 January 1973) the term was also used, but names then indicated as such do not have the same status. A notable example of this previous use is that of Scrotum humanum.
See also
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