Vitticeps

Vitticeps is a Latin-derived specific epithet used in the scientific names of a number of organisms. It is not a genus or a species name on its own; rather, it appears as the second element in binomial names across different, unrelated taxa.

Etymology: The epithet is formed from Latin elements related to "band" or "stripe" (vitt- or vitta) and "head" (ceps, from caput). It is commonly interpreted as "banded head" or "head with a band," a descriptive reference to a head-marking described in the original species description.

Taxonomic usage: Vitticeps has been employed in the binomials of multiple species in diverse groups by different authors. Because the epithet is descriptive and not unique to a single lineage, species sharing vitticeps are not assumed to be closely related based on the epithet alone; their relatedness is determined by their broader taxonomic placement and phylogeny.

Morphology: When applied, vitticeps typically refers to a noticeable head pattern, such as a pale, dark, or colored band across or around the head. The exact appearance depends on the species and the description in the authority’s publication.

See also: Notes on Latin binomial epithets; List of Latin descriptive epithets used in taxonomy.