Sudasiatica

Sudasiatica is a Latin-derived adjectival epithet used in scientific nomenclature to indicate that a taxon is from or associated with the South Asian region. It is not a taxonomic rank or a standalone taxon, but rather part of a binomial or infraspecific name.

In taxonomy, geographic epithets such as sudasiatica are formed to agree with the gender of the genus. The feminine form sudasiatica is used with feminine genera, while masculine and neuter forms would be sudasiaticus and sudasiaticum, respectively. The epithet serves as a geographic descriptor, complementing the genus name and species epithet.

Usage and scope: Sudasiatica appears across disciplines that use Latinized names, including botany, zoology, and mycology. It is employed in species descriptions to signal origin or distribution, typically supported by cited type localities or distribution data in the scientific literature. The creation and use of such epithets follow the rules of the relevant nomenclature codes (for plants, algae, and fungi, or for animals).

Limitations: The appearance of sudasiatica in a name does not by itself establish taxonomic validity; the species or taxon must also meet the formal criteria of description, publication, and type designation under the appropriate code. Geographic epithets are informative but must be corroborated by evidence of locality and distribution.

See also: geographic epithet, Latin in biological nomenclature, taxonomic nomenclature codes.