Article 52. Principle of Homonymy
52.1. Statement of the Principle of Homonymy
When two or more taxa are distinguished from each other they must not be denoted by the same name.
52.2. Operation of the Principle of Homonymy
When two or more names are homonyms, only the senior, as determined by the Principle of Priority (see Article 52.3), may be used as a valid name; for exceptions see Articles 23.2 and 23.9 (unused senior homonyms) and Article 59 (secondary homonyms in the species group).
52.3. Principle of Priority applies
The relative precedence of homonyms (including primary and secondary homonyms in the case of species-group names) is determined by applying the relevant provisions of the Principles of Priority and the First Reviser [Arts. 23, 24].
52.4. Replacement of junior homonyms
See Articles 23.3.5, 23.9.5, 39, 55 and 60.
52.5. Suppression of senior homonyms
52.6. Incorrect and corrected original spellings
The corrected spelling of an incorrect original spelling may enter homonymy but an incorrect original spelling cannot [Art. 32.4].
52.7. Homonymy with names of taxa which are not animals
The name of an animal taxon identical with the name of a taxon which has never been treated as animal is not a homonym for the purposes of zoological nomenclature [Arts. 1.4, 2.2].