In taxonomy a superseded combination is a notice of change to the binomial nomenclature of the accepted name of a species. This happens when a species is moved to a new genus after the initial species description. The original name is called a superseded combination, and the new name is called the

new combination ''Combinatio nova'', abbreviated ''comb. nov.'' (sometimes ''n. comb.''), is Latin for "new combination". It is used in taxonomic biology literature when a new name is introduced based on a pre-existing name. The term should not to be confused wi ...

, or . Some, but not all superseded combinations are

basionym In the scientific name of organisms, basionym or basyonym means the original name on which a new name is based; the author citation of the new name should include the authors of the basionym in parentheses. The term "basionym" is used in both botan ...

s, but some basionyms are not superseded combinations. The superseded combination is not the same as a

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

and technically should not be called one. If the species is moved again to a third genus, both of the older names are considered superseded combinations. The original name is the superseded original combination and the second name is the superseded recombination. If the species were moved back to a previous genus, the

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is an organization dedicated to "achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals". Founded in 1895, it currently comprises 26 commissioners from 20 countries. Orga ...

would not consider the current name to be a new combination. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

is kept in all these name changes, with perhaps some modification of the suffix to harmonize with the genus name. For example, in 1766 Peter Simon Pallas described a new species of marine polychaete worm he called ''

Aphrodita ''Aphrodita'' is a genus of ocean, marine polychaete worms found in the Mediterranean sea and the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean. Several members of this genus are known as "sea mice". Etymology The name of the genus is taken from Aphr ...

flava''. In 1867, that name became a superseded (original) combination when

Hjalmar Kinberg Johan Gustaf Hjalmar Kinberg (13 May 1820 – 29 August 1908) was a Swedish zoologist, physician and veterinarian who was born in Grönby, near Trelleborg, Skåne County and who died in St. Matthew's Parish, Stockholm. Family Hjalmar Kinberg's ...

moved the species to '' Thesmia'', creating the new combination ''Thesmia flava''. The genus ''Thesmia'' was later synonymized with '' Chloeia'',Read, G.; Fauchald, K. (Ed.) (2024). World Polychaeta Database. ''Thesmia'' Kinberg, 1867. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=326050 on 2024-07-08 creating a new combination of ''

Chloeia flava ''Chloeia flava'', also known as the golden fireworm, is a segmented bristleworm belonging to the family Amphinomidae. Description The golden fireworm has an elongated body. Its size varies between long, and wide, excluding bristles. Its color ...

''Read, G.; Fauchald, K. (Ed.) (2024). World Polychaeta Database. ''Chloeia flava'' (Pallas, 1766). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=209687 on 2024-07-08 ''Aphrodita flava'' is the superseded original combination, ''Thesmia flava'' is the superseded subsequent recombination, and the current name ''Chloeia flava'' is the new combination.

References

{{Reflist Botanical nomenclature Zoological nomenclature