abnormalis

Abnormalis is a Latin adjective meaning abnormal or deviant. In scientific nomenclature, abnormalis is most often used as a species epithet within binomials or trinomial names to indicate an unusual or distinctive trait observed in a specimen. It is not a taxon by itself but rather a descriptor attached to a genus name to form a species name.

Etymology and grammar: Derived from the Latin ab- meaning away from, and normalis meaning normal. As a Latin adjective, abnormalis is typically treated as agreeing with the gender of the genus; masculine and feminine forms are often identical in spelling, while neuter forms differ (often abnormale). In practice some authors retain the same form across genders in published names, while others adjust to standard Latin agreement.

Taxonomic usage: The epithet abnormalis has appeared in zoological and botanical literature since the adoption of Latin as the language of taxonomy. Its use reflects an observed deviation from what the author considered typical for a group. The presence of abnormalis in a name does not imply ongoing abnormality in all members of the genus, or in related groups; it reflects the trait of the type specimen used in description.

Examples and notes: Numerous described species across various groups have carried the epithet abnormalis, typically to flag unusual morphology, coloration, or other traits of the described specimen. Modern practice often favors more precise or informative epithets rather than generic descriptors; the choice of epithet should convey meaningful differentiating information about the taxon.