Taxonomy
N
Nomen Dubium
/ /ˈnəʊmɛn ˈdjuːbɪəm/ /
Etymology:
From Latin nomen (name) + dubius (doubtful)
Quick Definition
A scientific name of uncertain or doubtful application because its type specimen is lost, poorly preserved, or insufficient for confident identification.
📖 Full Definition
A nomen dubium (plural: nomina dubia) is a name whose application is uncertain. This can occur when the holotype was lost, destroyed, or was inadequately described such that the name cannot be reliably applied to known taxa. Many early fish names (especially pre-Linnaean and early post-Linnaean) are nomina dubia because specimens were never deposited, or were described only from illustrations or brief text. Nomina dubia are technically still available under the ICZN Code, creating nomenclatural instability until a neotype is designated or the name is formally suppressed.