Nomos taxonomic names management system
Keeping biodiversity names connected, consistent and current.
What is Nomos?
Accurate and well-managed taxonomic names are fundamental to how biodiversity information is collected, interpreted, shared and used. They underpin species records, conservation status information, biological collections, environmental reporting, legislative processes and data exchange with state and national partners.
Nomos is DBCA’s taxonomic names management system. Managed by the Biodiversity Information Office, it brings together taxonomic authority information from the WA Herbarium and WA Museum, and supports the management of scientific names, taxonomic relationships and conservation status information.
Replacing WA Census
In June 2026, Nomos replaced WA Census, DBCA’s taxonomic names application for flora. The transition brought key WA Census functions and data into a single, modern platform for flora and fungi taxonomy.
Keeping biodiversity data interpretable over time
By connecting names, hierarchies, synonymy and change history, Nomos helps ensure biodiversity data remains interpretable over time, even as scientific understanding and classifications change.
Core taxonomic functions
Nomos supports biodiversity data quality by:
- standardising scientific names according to state taxonomic authorities
- maintaining taxonomic hierarchies
- tracking the history of taxonomic changes
- linking older names to current accepted names through synonymy
- supporting consistent interpretation and exchange of biodiversity data.
These functions are important because many biodiversity datasets continue to depend on names that may have changed since records were first collected or published.
Supporting state and national biodiversity systems
Nomos strengthens DBCA’s capacity to contribute to state and national biodiversity information systems. It supports ongoing work to harmonise taxonomy with national resources, including the Australian Plant Name Index and the National Species List, and helps DBCA share high-quality, well-structured biodiversity information with partners.
Access Nomos data
External users can download the latest publicly available Nomos taxonomy extract as a CSV file.
Download Nomos taxonomy data (CSV)
Key field
taxon_name_idThe unique identifier for a taxon name.
Find out more
For questions about Nomos or its taxonomy data, contact the Biodiversity Information Office .
Guidelines, services and standards
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