How to name a prokaryote?: Etymological considerations, proposals and practical advice in prokaryote nomenclature

Abstract

Abstract This essay tries to bring together the most important aspects of etymology in prokaryote names, the theoretical basis and the practical application. The scientific names of prokaryotes are formed from a large thesaurus of Latin and Greek words and word elements. The rules for forming such names are explained and discussed (including pronunciation and accentuation). Elaborate advice is given for forming generic names and specific epithets in general as well as from personal and geographic names, from names of biota that host prokaryotes and from names of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Further, names based on words of other than Latin or Greek origin as well as so-called arbitrary names are explained and their formation is exemplified. Names of the highest taxa are critically discussed. Examples of case histories of malformed names are given. Practical etymology is described for genera and species. A number of proposals are made for further developing the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria with respect to an easier understanding of etymology.