In the fourth edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature ( 1999 ) certain provisions were modified, including the adoption of " reversal of precedence . " Article 23.1 stipulates that priority in scientific names applies to " . . the relative precedence of homonyms, " among other conditions, and Article 23.9 details the " reversal of precendence, " which requires that a substitution or replacement name be adopted if, among other conditions, " the senior synonym or homonym has not been used as a valid name after 1899 . " Since the discovery of the homonymy was published subsequent to the fourth edition of the Code, these requirements would need to be met prior to making such a change.
