Nomen nudum

Nomen nudum (plural: Nomina nuda ) is a Latin term from the biological nomenclature and literally means "naked name ".

This term is used in biological nomenclature for a purported scientific name that does not meet the requirements of the specific nomenclature codes in the scientific first description of its availability. This can for example be caused by an incorrect name derivation in the case of names of families by the absence of a differential diagnosis or a reference to such a diagnosis or by the lack of mention of a type species in the case of a new species of animal. Due to such formal defects of the name is not recognized, its use in a new description is possible.