JOURNAL ARTICLE

Eponyms of birds mostly honour scientists and show positive inclusivity trends.

  • Published In: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2025, v. 203, n. 3. P. 1 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Sangster, George 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines the use of eponyms—taxonomic names honoring individuals—in biological classification of birds, analyzing 28,395 valid bird genus, species, and subspecies names. It finds that 21.6% are eponyms, with the proportion increasing to about 43% in recent years (2010–2022). Most honorees have been scientists (71.5%), predominantly male (93%) and from western countries (93%), though the representation of women and non-western individuals has significantly increased since 1900. The study highlights that while historical biases exist, current trends show growing inclusivity, suggesting that drastic changes to naming practices may be unnecessary as taxonomy continues to evolve.

Additional Information

  • Source:Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2025/03, Vol. 203, Issue 3, p1
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Education
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0024-4082
  • DOI:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf022
  • Accession Number:184296396
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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