auritum

Auritum is a Latin adjectival form used in biological nomenclature. It is the neuter singular form of auritus, meaning “having ears” or “ear-shaped.” In taxonomic names, auritum functions as a descriptive epithet rather than as the name of a taxon on its own.

The epithet auritum appears across the tree of life in various groups, including animals, plants, and fungi. The precise meaning depends on the original description: it may refer to ear-like projections or structures on an organism, to an arrangement or feature reminiscent of ears, or to a trait the describer deemed notable. Because epithets are descriptive, auritum is not confined to any single lineage and can appear in different genera.

In zoological and botanical nomenclature, adjectives must agree in gender with the genus. Therefore auritum is used when the associated genus is neuter; masculine or feminine genera would take auritus or aurita, respectively. As with many Latin epithets, the exact interpretation of auritum is best understood by consulting the original species description where the trait is noted. If the genus is neuter, the species name will typically appear as auritum; otherwise, the appropriate masculine or feminine form would be used.