Urolithiopsis

Urolithiopsis is a term that has appeared in a small number of scientific writings. It is not widely recognized as a formal genus name in major taxonomic databases, and there is no universally accepted description or type specimen associated with it. Because of this, the precise scope and rank of Urolithiopsis remain unclear, and different sources may use the name in different ways.

Etymology and possible meanings: The name combines uro- (urine), lith- (stone), and -opsis (appearance or view). This construction evokes urinary calculi or stone-like material, but it does not by itself establish a taxonomic sense.

Taxonomic status: Without a formal description, designation of a type species, or publication in accordance with appropriate nomenclatural codes, Urolithiopsis is not considered a validly published name in standard references. If a source later provides a diagnosis and type, the name would be evaluated under the relevant rules.

Usage notes: Some authors may have used Urolithiopsis as a provisional label in discussions of urinary stones, fossil microfossils with calcified features, or as a misnomer for another taxon. Such uses are inconsistent and not widely adopted.

See also: Urolith, urinary stone; lithos or lith- prefix in taxonomic names; -opsis suffix; taxonomic nomenclature.

References: No widely available sources are cited here.