Re: what's a "nomen vanum"?

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/15/99 3:19:58 PM EST, bettyc@flyinggoat.com writes:

<< what's a "nomen vanum"?  I think this came across on the vert paleo list
 recently >>

Literally the phrase means "empty name," and it denotes taxonomic names whose 
definitions are inadequate. It's no longer used (that is, it's not supposed 
to be used anymore); the preferred terms are now "nomen nudum," which denotes 
a name that has no scientific description, and "nomen dubium," which denotes 
a scientific name based on nondiagnostic material, or simply a scientific 
name of doubtful validity.