Valid name (zoology)

Not to be confused with botany's validly published name, which is equivalent to zoology's available name

In zoological nomenclature, the valid name of a taxon is the correct scientific name for that taxon, given a particular circumscription. The valid name must be used for that taxon, regardless of any other name that may currently be used for that taxon, or may previously have been used. A name can only be valid (or invalid) when it is an available name under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN); if a name is unavailable, then it cannot be considered either valid or invalid.

In contrast, a name which is available but not the correct name for a taxon is known as an invalid name.

There are two categories of invalid names.

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