bifurcatus

Bifurcatus is a Latin adjectival epithet used in biological nomenclature. It is not a standalone taxon or group; rather, it appears as the specific epithet in the binomial names of various species across different genera. The word conveys a descriptive feature—specifically that something about the organism is forked or divided into two branches.

Etymology and grammar: The form derives from bi- meaning two and furca meaning fork, with the common adjectival suffix -atus. In scientific naming, the epithet must agree in gender with the genus name: bifurcatus (masculine), bifurcata (feminine), or bifurcatum (neuter).

Taxonomic usage: Because it is an epithet rather than a taxon, bifurcatus can be found in multiple, unrelated lineages, including plants, animals, and fungi. It is typically chosen to highlight a morphological trait described in the species’ diagnostic description, such as a bifurcated leaf, stem, fin ray, or other structure that splits into two branches. The exact feature referenced varies by species and is explained in the original species description or diagnosis.

Notes: As with many Latin epithets, bifurcatus is reused independently in different genera. Its presence in a name provides no information about relatedness between organisms sharing the epithet. For precise information about a given bifurcatus species, one must consult the taxonomic description of that specific binomial.

See also: binomial nomenclature, Latin grammar in taxonomy, morphological descriptors in species names.