Proposed Rules for the incorporation of nomina of higher-ranked zoological taxa in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 2. The proposed Rules and their rationale

After the critical study of a number of concepts and problems of zoological nomenclature and the proposal of terminological novelties, 24 formal Rules for nomenclature of higher-ranked taxa (i.e. for taxa above superfamily) are formulated, that are compatible with the current Code and could possibly be incorporated in the latter. These Rules concern: 1) the availability of nomina; 2) their allocation to taxa, through a set of generic nomina that together constitute the onomatophore of the nomen, and in some cases a set of generic nomina expressly excluded from the taxon designated by the nomen; and 3) their validity, based usually on priority, but in some cases taking into account widespread use of a nomen outside the field of systematics.