Type specimen
- Pronunciation
- /tahyp SPEH-suh-muhn/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- Type specimen
- Plural
- Type specimens
Definition
A specimen selected to act as a reference point when a species is first described. It serves as the definitive example of that species.
Etymology
From Latin 'typus', meaning 'a figure, model' and 'specimen', meaning 'an example to show what the rest are like'.
Example
The type specimen of the newly discovered beetle species was carefully preserved and stored in the museum's entomology collection.
Synonyms
Related Terms
Usage Notes
A type specimen is crucial in the process of species identification and classification, providing a clear standard for comparisons.