Correct option is B
Explanation:
Statement A: A plant and an animal cannot bear the same binomial Latin name.
This statement is incorrect. While the binomial nomenclature system (scientific naming) assigns unique names to species, a plant and an animal can have the same binomial Latin name if they are classified under different kingdoms. For example, there are species of both plants and animals that share similar names but belong to entirely different biological classifications.
Statement B: The valid name of a taxon is the oldest available name that has been applied to it and which is validly published.
This statement is correct. The Principle of Priority states that the valid name for a taxon is the oldest available name that has been validly published and accepted. This ensures consistency and historical continuity in scientific naming. If multiple names have been applied to a taxon, the earliest name is accepted as the correct one.
Statement C: A species may not be removed from a genus once described.
This statement is incorrect. Contrary to the claim, a species can be removed from a genus if new research or reclassification suggests a different classification. Taxonomy is dynamic, and species may be moved to a new genus based on new genetic or morphological evidence. Genus names are not fixed once a species has been described.
Statement D: Only a single specimen ‘holotype’ acts as the primary “name bearer” for any species.
This statement is correct. According to the rules of zoological and botanical nomenclature, the holotype is the single specimen selected when a new species is described. The holotype acts as the "name bearer" for the species, and all future references to that species are compared to this original specimen. The holotype is crucial for the consistency of species identification.
