Question

“Law of priority,” says that the valid name of an organism is
A. Most popular name
B. Name is given in Latin
C. Oldest used name
D. Oldest name modified by workers

Answer 1

The ‘Law of priority’ refers to the principle in taxonomy in which the name of a species or genus was properly published for the first time. The fundamental principle of the modern zoological nomenclature and botanical nomenclature is a priority.

Complete answer: The priority is a fundamental principle of modern botanical nomenclature and zoological nomenclature. There are two aspects of the law of priority. The first formal scientific name given to an animal or plant taxon should be the name used which is called the correct name in the field of botany and valid name in the field of zoology. The second consideration is that the name once published or used should not have a subsequent publication of that name for another taxon. The principle of priority is one of the most important and guiding principles of the ‘International Code of Zoological Nomenclature’. The principle of priority is applied to the names at the rank of the family and below in botany and horticulture. In zoology, there’s an exception as another name may be given precedence by any ruling of the Commission or provision of the Code. It is the oldest used name for plants and animals.
So, option C is the correct option.

Note: The principle of priority was not always considered when the foundation of the modern nomenclature was laid down by Carl Linnaeus. He did not recognize the prior names. The first sign of recognition of priority came in the year 1813 when some principles of good nomenclatural practice were laid by A.P. De Candolle.