articulatus

Articulatus is a Latin adjective meaning "jointed" or "having joints." In scientific naming, it is commonly used as a species epithet in binomial nomenclature to indicate organisms with segmented or articulated morphology. The ending articulatus is masculine, with articulata (feminine) and articulatum (neuter) used to agree with the gender of the genus.

Etymology and form: The root is articulus, meaning "joint" or "jointed part." As a descriptive epithet, articulatus conveys a morphological feature rather than a taxonomic rank by itself. Its use is typical in the early descriptive phase of taxonomy and in works that emphasize characteristic body plans.

Usage in biology: The epithet articulatus frequently appears in zoological and paleontological contexts to describe organisms with articulated or segmented bodies, appendages, or external structures, such as arthropods or annelids. In botanical names, the same root may be applied to indicate joints or segmentation in stems or inflorescences, though botanical descriptors often combine multiple attributes.

Taxonomic practice: Articulatus is not a taxon; it is part of a species name. It reflects a morphological observation made by the describer and is governed by the conventions of Latin grammar, requiring agreement with the genus gender. Over time, epithet choices like articulatus can appear across diverse taxonomic groups, illustrating how morphology informs naming.

Related considerations: The term has forms in the other gendered endings (articulata, articulatum) and should be distinguished from related terms such as articulation, which refers to a joint or a point of connection rather than a descriptive epithet.