Question

A homonym is
A) Two or more names for the same taxon.
B) Species name repeats the generic name
C) Identical names of to different taxa
D) Name given to a taxon in local language

Answer 1

Hint:- Homonym refers to ‘a word that is spelled and pronounced like another word but that has a different meaning'. Example: 'book' – is ‘something to read’ and also refers to ‘making a reservation'. The bark is a tree's outermost layer and Bark also refers to a dog's sound. In biology, a homonym is a similar concept related to taxa.

Complete step-by-step solution:-
● A homonym is a name that belongs to a taxon and which spells the same as a name belonging to another taxon.
● There are two types of homonyms called homophones and homographs. These terms may be confused with homonyms.
● Homonym can be used as a synonym for both homophone and homograph.
● Homophones- names of a taxon that sound the same but spelled differently.
● Homographs- names of a taxon with the same spelling but may not sound the same.
● To rule out any confusion in the taxon names, the ICZN (International Code of Zoological
Nomenclature) and ICN (International Code of Nomenclature of algae, fungi, and plants) say that: the senior homonym ( one that is published first) is to be used the same and the junior homonym has to be replaced with new names.
● Thus the senior homonym gets the privilege.
So, the correct answer is option C.

Note:- If an animal taxon has the same name as a plant taxon, both the names stand valid. Such names are called Hemi homonyms.
Example of hemi homonym:
● Animal taxon- A beetle – Adesmia muricata L.
● Plant taxon - A legume – Adesmia muricta Jacq.
For plant taxon, the later published homonym is known as an ‘illegitimate’ homonym.