The preprints are preliminary versions of works accessible electronically in advance of publication of the final version. They are not issued for purposes of botanical, mycological or zoological nomenclature and are not effectively/validly published in the meaning of the Codes. Therefore, nomenclatural novelties (new names) or other nomenclatural acts (designations of type, choices of priority between names, choices between orthographic variants, or choices of gender of names) should NOT be posted in preprints. The following provisions in the Codes of Nomenclature define their status: International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICNafp) Article 30.2: "An electronic publication is not effectively published if there is evidence within or associated with the publication that its content is merely preliminary and was, or is to be, replaced by content that the publisher considers final, in which case only the version with that final content is effectively published." In order to be validly published, a nomenclatural novelty must be effectively published (Art. 32.1(a)); in order to take effect, other nomenclatural acts must be effectively published (Art. 7.10, 11.5, 53.5, 61.3, and 62.3).

International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) Article: 21.8.3: "Some works are accessible online in preliminary versions before the publication date of the final version. Such advance electronic access does not advance the date of publication of a work, as preliminary versions are not published (Article 9.9)".