Correct option is D
EXPLANATION-
Statement A - "If the generic name is of masculine gender, the species name should be of feminine gender."
This is incorrect. In ICZN, the species epithet (specific name) must agree in gender with the generic name only if it is an adjective or participle; otherwise, it can be invariant (e.g., nouns in apposition). There is no rule that species name must be feminine if the generic name is masculine.
Statement B - "A name is to be rejected if it is a tautonym or inappropriately describes a taxon’s character."
Partially incorrect. Tautonyms (where genus and species names are identical, e.g., Bison bison) are actually allowed and accepted in zoological nomenclature. However, names that are inappropriate or misleading may be rejected or corrected in some cases, but not simply because they describe the taxon’s character poorly.
So, this statement is incorrect as tautonyms are valid in ICZN.
Statement C -"The name of an animal taxon cannot be rejected because it is identical with the name of another taxon which is not an animal."
This is correct. The ICZN applies only to animals, and identical names can exist across different kingdoms (e.g., an animal genus and a plant genus can share the same name). Such names are not rejected simply because of homonymy with non-animal taxa.
Statement D -"Even if the taxon concerned is no longer classified as an animal, its name remains available."
This is correct. If a taxon originally described as an animal is later removed from the animal kingdom (e.g., reclassified as a protist), the name remains available and valid within the ICZN framework for historical and nomenclatural purposes.
So, the correct option is (d) - C and D only
