type specimen

views updated May 17 2018

type specimen(holotype) An individual plant or animal chosen by taxonomists to serve as the basis for naming and describing a new species or variety. Compare lectotype; neotype; paratype; and syntype.

A Dictionary of Ecology MICHAEL ALLABY

type specimen

views updated May 14 2018

type specimen The specimen used for naming and describing a species or subspecies. If this is the original specimen collected by the author who named the species it is termed a holotype. The type specimen is not necessarily the most characteristic representative of the species. The term type is also applied to any taxon selected as being representative of the rank to which it belongs. For example, the genus Solanum (potato) is said to be the type genus of the family Solanaceae.

A Dictionary of Biology

type specimen

views updated May 14 2018

type specimen (holotype) An individual plant or animal chosen by taxonomists to serve as the basis for naming and describing a new species or variety. Compare LECTOTYPE and SYNTYPE.

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY

type specimen

views updated May 29 2018

type specimen (holotype) In taxonomy, the individual animal that is chosen to serve as the basis for naming and describing a new species or variety. compare LECTOTYPE; SYNTYPE.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY