author citation

The part of a scientific name which shows who published the first taxonomic description under that name. This isn't just to give credit: It's not uncommon for different organisms to be described under the same name by different authors. The author citation helps keep straight which organism is being referred to. It also ties the name to the scientific literature so one can find more information.

If part of the name is different from that in original publication (for example, if a species has been moved to a new genus), the author citation is in parentheses. A year is often added because most authors have multiple publications to their names over their careers.

Examples (author citation in blue):

Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758   •Described by Carolus Linnaeus under the name Apis mellifera in the 10th edition of his work Systema Naturae, which was published in 1758.

Latrodectus mactans (Fabricius, 1775)   •Described by Johan Christian Fabricius in his 1775 work Systema entomologiae under the name Aranea mactans

Wikipedia:Author citation (zoology)