bealei

Bealei is a Latinized specific epithet used in the scientific names of various plants and animals to honor individuals with the surname Beale. In binomial nomenclature, bealei is appended to the genus name to form a two-part name, for example Genus bealei.

Etymology and form. The epithet bealei is derived from the surname Beale with the Latin genitive ending -i, indicating “of Beale.” The gender of the honoree can influence the ending in related epithets (for a female honoree, bealeae is sometimes used; for multiple honorees, bealeorum may appear). The exact form is guided by the grammatical rules of Latin and the relevant nomenclature codes.

Usage in taxonomy. Bealei is a patronymic epithet, not a descriptive term. It is used across diverse groups and can appear in the names of many species across different genera and even across kingdoms. Because it is a common honoree-based epithet, there can be numerous, unrelated species that share the bealei epithet.

Nomenclature guidance. The assignment and publication of bealei names follow the codes governing biological nomenclature: the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) for animals and the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) for plants and fungi. These codes address priority, validity, and proper formation of names.

See also. Beale (surname); Latin grammar of taxonomic epithets; ICZN; ICN.

References. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature; International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants.