Artenmerkmal

Artenmerkmal (from Art, species, and Merkmal, feature) is a diagnostic characteristic used to identify a species and differentiate it from related taxa. In taxonomic work, an Artenmerkmal should be present in members of the species and consistently distinguish them from other species.

Artenmerkmale can be morphological (shape, color, structures), anatomical (organs, skeletal features), molecular (DNA sequences, genetic markers), behavioral (courtship rituals), or ecological (habitat preferences). They may be singular or part of a combination used in identification keys. Because individuals within a species can vary and related species may share similar traits, taxonomists usually rely on a suite of characters rather than a single Merkmal and may supplement with genetic data or geographic information.

Examples of Artenmerkmale include a distinctive dental pattern or skull shape in mammals; a unique floral structure or leaf arrangement in plants; specific wing venation in insects; or characteristic genetic sequences in bacteria. The practical use of Artenmerkmal lies in dichotomous keys, field guides, and formal taxonomic descriptions.

Limitations exist: phenotypic plasticity, convergent evolution, and the presence of cryptic species can complicate identification based on visible traits alone. In such cases, molecular data or integrative approaches are used to confirm species boundaries. The concept remains central to species delimitation and identification, even as methods in taxonomy evolve.