Whitneyi

Whitneyi is a Latinized species epithet widely used in the scientific names of organisms to honor individuals bearing the surname Whitney. It is not a standalone taxon but an epithet appended to a genus name in binomial nomenclature, for example Genus whitneyi.

Etymology and formation: The epithet Whitneyi uses the masculine suffix -i, Latinized to denote a male honoree; feminine form would be whitneyae, and plural whitneyorum for a group.

Usage: The epithet appears across zoological, botanical, and mycological nomenclature. It is chosen by the describing author and typically explained in the original species description, sometimes noting the person’s contributions to science or to the collection of the type specimen. The same individual may be honored by multiple different species across different genera.

Rules: Naming is governed by the relevant code (ICZN for animals, ICN for plants, fungi). The epithet must be unique within a genus but can be reused in different genera. Spelling and capitalization follow Latinization conventions; the epithet is written in lowercase.

Limitations and disambiguation: Because many species have been named Whitneyi, there is potential for confusion; disambiguation is often required and is achieved through context provided by the genus and the full binomial name.

See also: Eponym, Taxonomic naming, List of taxa named after people.