Type (biology)

In biology, a type is a special example of a living thing. Scientists use this example, called a specimen, to help describe a group of organisms. When scientists name a new plant, animal, or any living thing, they often pick one specimen to be the type. This type specimen is kept safe in a museum or research collection so other scientists can study it.

A group of organisms with a special name is called a taxon. For example, a species is a type of taxon. When scientists describe a new species, they write a description and usually choose a type specimen. This specimen is the main example for that species. By looking at the type, scientists can compare it with other examples to see if they belong to the same group.

Types are important because they help keep scientific names clear and consistent. They make sure everyone is talking about the same group of organisms when they use a particular name. This way, scientists all over the world can share their discoveries and understand each other better.

Type specimen

Main article: type specimen (mineralogy)

In biology, scientists use special examples of plants, animals, or other living things to name groups of organisms. These special examples are called type specimens. They help scientists agree on what each name means.

Usually, a type specimen is a real plant or animal kept safe in a museum or a research collection. Sometimes, a picture can also be used. When scientists find a new group of organisms, they pick one specimen to be the type and give it a name. This way, everyone knows exactly which group they are talking about when they use that name. For example, a bird in a museum in London is the type for the species called Circus assimilis, the spotted harrier. This helps scientists study and talk about animals and plants clearly.

Older terminology

In older books about grouping living things, the word "type" was used in different ways. At first, it meant something like what we now call a taxon. But in other books, it was used more like how we think of a group of related plants or animals today. This shows how scientists' ideas about living things have changed over time.

In botany

In botanical nomenclature, a type is a special example that helps link a plant name to a real plant. This can be a real plant kept safe in a herbarium, or sometimes just a picture if the real plant was hard to keep.

Types help scientists agree on what a plant name means. For example, the name for a common plant like the dandelion can refer to many small kinds or just one big group — but the type example stays the same.

The most common kinds of types include:

• holotype – the main example chosen by the scientist who named the plant
• lectotype – chosen later if the main example was lost
• isotype – a copy of the main example
• syntype – any of several examples used when there was no single main one
• paratype – extra examples used to help describe the plant
• neotype – chosen if no original examples are left
• epitype – extra detail added later to help identify the plant better

In zoology

In zoological nomenclature, the type of a species or subspecies is a sample or group of samples. The type of a group like a family is a type of genus. Names higher than superfamily rank do not have types. A "name-bearing type" is a sample or picture that helps decide how a name is used.

A type specimen is usually one sample or fossil that carries a name for a species. For example, the type specimen for Homo neanderthalensis was "Neanderthal-1" found by Johann Karl Fuhlrott in 1856 in Germany. It included a skullcap and some bones. There can be more than one type specimen, but usually, there is only one main type called a holotype.

A type species is the nominal species that carries the name for a subgenus. A type genus is the nominal genus that carries the name for a family-group taxon. The type series are all the samples the author used when describing a taxon.

Main article: Holotype

When one sample is clearly chosen in the first description, this sample is called the holotype of that species. The holotype is usually kept in a big museum so other biologists can see it.

Main article: Paratype

When a holotype is chosen, there may be other samples called paratypes. These are extra samples but are not name-bearing types.

An allotype is a sample of the opposite sex to the holotype, chosen from among paratypes. The word was also once used for a sample showing extra features of a fossil. The term is not regulated by the ICZN.

A neotype is a sample chosen later to be the main type when the original holotype was lost or never chosen.

Main article: Syntype

A syntype is any one of two or more samples listed in a species description where no holotype was chosen. Those that still exist are still considered name-bearing types.

A lectotype is a sample chosen later to be the main type specimen for species first described from a group of syntypes. Having one name-bearing type helps avoid confusion.

Main article: Type species

Each genus must have a type species. The description of a genus is usually based on its type species, with extra details from other species. The genus name is linked to the name-bearing type of its type species.

Main article: Type genus

A type genus is a genus that gives the name to a family. The type genus is often the earliest described or best-known genus. The family name does not change even if the type genus is no longer used.