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In taxonomy
Taxonomy

Taxonomy is the practice and science of classification. The word comes from the Greek language ', taxis and ', nomos .Taxonomies, or taxonomic schemes, are composed of taxonomic units known as taxa , or kinds of things that are arranged frequently in a hierarchical structure....
, a type species is the species that originally defined a genus. It is an individual specimen (either tangible, fossilized, or an illustration) that fixes the name of a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 (or of a taxon
Taxon

A taxon or taxonomic unit is a name designating an organism or a group of organisms. In biological nomenclature according to Carl Linnaeus, a taxon is assigned a taxonomic rank and can be placed at a particular level in a systematic hierarchy reflecting evolutionary relationships....
 in a rank lower than genus). Two different definitions are used interchangeably, in a general term and a botanical term.

ctly speaking, a type species exists only in zoological nomenclature.






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In taxonomy
Taxonomy

Taxonomy is the practice and science of classification. The word comes from the Greek language ', taxis and ', nomos .Taxonomies, or taxonomic schemes, are composed of taxonomic units known as taxa , or kinds of things that are arranged frequently in a hierarchical structure....
, a type species is the species that originally defined a genus. It is an individual specimen (either tangible, fossilized, or an illustration) that fixes the name of a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 (or of a taxon
Taxon

A taxon or taxonomic unit is a name designating an organism or a group of organisms. In biological nomenclature according to Carl Linnaeus, a taxon is assigned a taxonomic rank and can be placed at a particular level in a systematic hierarchy reflecting evolutionary relationships....
 in a rank lower than genus). Two different definitions are used interchangeably, in a general term and a botanical term.

General definition

Strictly speaking, a type species exists only in zoological nomenclature. As set in article 42.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is a set of rules in zoology that have one fundamental aim: to provide the maximum universality and continuity in the naming of all animals according to taxonomy judgment....
, the type of the name of a genus or subgenus (a "genus-group name") is the "type species". This is defined as "The nominal species that is the name-bearing type of a nominal genus or subgenus". The species name in turn is fixed to a type specimen.

Botanical definition

In botanical nomenclature
Botanical nomenclature

Botanical nomenclature is the formal naming of plants, from a scientific point of view. It has a long history, going back perhaps to Theophrastos, but anyway back to the period when Latin was the scientific language throughout Europe....
, the type of a name of a genus or species is a specimen
Herbarium

In botany, a herbarium is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in alcohol or other preservative....
 (or illustration) (ICBN
International Code of Botanical Nomenclature

The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature is the set of rules and recommendations dealing with the formal botanical names that are given to plants....
, articles 10.1, 8.1 and 10.4). This type will usually be the type of an included species, in which case it can be indicated by the name of this species (Art 10.1). This species is called the "type species", but this phrase has no formal standing. The botanical type specimen itself is generally called a "type specimen."

See also

  • Biological type
    Biological type

    In biology, a type is that which fixes a name to a taxon. Depending on the Nomenclature Codes which is applied to the organism in question, a type may be a specimen, culture, illustration, description or taxon....