Nominotypical

Nominotypical is an adjective used in biological nomenclature to describe a taxon that is name-bearing or reference-bearing for a larger taxon. It derives from Latin nomen, meaning “name,” and typus, meaning “type.” The term is most commonly encountered in discussions of subspecies, genera, and other ranks where a name is tied to a type.

In practice, nominotypical usage is most familiar in relation to nominotypical subspecies (also called the nominate subspecies). This is the subspecies that bears the same epithet as the species and serves as the standard reference form for that species. For example, in Panthera tigris tigris, the subspecies tigris is nominotypical; likewise, Ursus arctos arctos is the nominotypical subspecies of the brown bear. The concept helps researchers communicate which form is the reference point for a species.

Beyond subspecies, nominotypical can describe higher taxa that are named after a type genus or type species. For instance, a family named after its type genus—such as Rosaceae, named from Rosa (the type genus of the family Rosaceae)—is sometimes described as nominotypical in relation to that genus. In such contexts, nominotypical emphasizes the taxon’s naming origin rather than a distinct rank.

The term is primarily used in taxonomic notes, cataloging, and formal discussions of nomenclature. It is closely related to the word nominate, and in many contexts the two are used interchangeably, though nominotypical emphasizes the naming type more specifically.