Why is the 10th edition of Systema Naturae a starting point for zoological nomenclature?

The 10th edition of Systema Naturae, published in 1758, is recognized as the official starting point for zoological nomenclature because it serves as the foundational reference for the consistent application of binomial nomenclature in the animal kingdom.

This designation is rooted in the "law of priority," a fundamental rule in taxonomy stating that the first properly published name of a species or genus takes precedence over all others. By establishing this work as the formal baseline, the scientific community created a standardized starting date to resolve naming conflicts and ensure stability in biological classification. While Carolus Linnaeus developed his hierarchical system earlier, the 1758 edition of Systema Naturae remains the agreed-upon point from which modern zoological naming conventions are traced.12