Onomatophore
- Pronunciation
- /oh-no-MAT-uh-fohr/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- Onomatophore
- Plural
- Onomatophores
Definition
An individual organism that serves as the original representative or example when a new species is described and named.
Etymology
From Greek 'onomato-' meaning 'name' and 'phoros' meaning 'bearer'.
Example
The onomatophore of the species was carefully studied, described, and documented in the research paper.
Synonyms
Related Terms
- Species
- Taxon
- Nomenclature
- Specimen
Usage Notes
Onomatophores are critical in taxonomy for the formal description and naming of new species. It provides a physical reference for the species identity and classification.