holotype
Noun The single physical specimen (or illustration in some cases) designated or otherwise fixed as the name-bearing example of a species or subspecies when it is formally established. It serves as the definitive reference point to which the scientific name of that taxon is permanently attached.
The term is used exclusively in the scientific field of biological taxonomy (the classification of organisms). It refers to the specific individual that a scientist uses to describe a new species for the first time in a published work. This specimen is permanently preserved in a museum or herbarium collection for future study and comparison.
- The holotype of is housed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
- In the original 1758 publication, Linnaeus designated a particular specimen as the holotype for the species .
- Researchers compared the new fossil to the holotype to confirm it belonged to the same species.
- The loss or destruction of a holotype can create significant nomenclatural problems for taxonomists.
- Type Specimen: "Holotype" is a specific kind of type specimen. Other types include paratypes (additional specimens from the original series) and lectotypes (a specimen chosen later if a holotype was not originally designated).
- Nomenclatural Standard: The holotype is the ultimate standard for applying a scientific name. Any debate about the characteristics of a species is resolved by referring back to its holotype.
- Illustration as Holotype: For certain groups (e.g., some fossils or bacteria), an illustration can serve as the holotype when preserving a physical specimen is not feasible.
- Type (noun): The general term for a specimen to which a scientific name is formally attached.
- Syntype (noun): Any one of two or more specimens cited in the original description when a holotype was not designated.
- Paratype (noun): A specimen cited in the original description that is not the holotype.
- Lectotype (noun): A specimen selected from the original material to serve as the single name-bearing type when a holotype was not designated.
- Neotype (noun): A specimen selected to serve as the name-bearing type when all original type material is lost or destroyed.
- Type specimen (general term)
- Name-bearing type (formal term)
There are no idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this highly technical term. Its usage is strictly formal and academic within the field of biological systematics.
- the original specimen from which the description of a new species is made