Nomen nudum

The phrase nomen nudum (plural nomina nuda) is a Latin term, meaning "naked name", used in taxonomy (especially in zoological and botanical nomenclature). It may or may not be written in italics, depending on style. 
The term is used to indicate a designation which looks exactly like a scientific name of an organism, and may have originally been intended to be a scientific name, but fails to be one because it has not (or has not yet) been published with an adequate description (or a reference to such a description), and thus is a "bare" or "naked" name, one which cannot be accepted as it currently stands.
Because a nomen nudum fails to qualify as a formal scientific name, a later author can publish a real scientific name that is identical in spelling. If one and the same author puts a name in print, first as a nomen nudum and later publishes it for real, accompanied by a description that meets the formal requirements, then the date of publication of the latter, formally correct, publication becomes the name's date of establishment.
==In zoology==
According to the rules of zoological nomenclature a nomen nudum is unavailable; the glossary of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature gives this definition:
And among the rules of that same Zoological Code:
==In botany==
According to the rules of botanical nomenclature a nomen nudum is not validly published. The glossary of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants gives this definition:
 The requirements for the diagnosis or description are covered by articles 32, 36, 41, 42, and 44.
==See also==
* Glossary of scientific naming
* Nomen dubium
==References==
 
Category:Botanical nomenclature
Category:Zoological nomenclature
Category:Latin words and phrases