catenatus

Catenatus is a Latin adjective meaning chain-like or linked in a sequence. In biological nomenclature, it is most often used as a species epithet rather than as a group name, and reflects a characteristic the describer judged to resemble a chain. The form derives from catena, “chain,” with the suffix -atus indicating a possessing or characteristic quality.

In practice, catenatus is applied when a species exhibits a chain-like feature or pattern. This can include markings arranged in a linked series, a chain-like venation pattern, or a sequence of related structures along the body or a limb. Because Latin descriptors are reused across many different organisms, the epithet appears in diverse taxa rather than indicating a single taxonomic group.

Taxonomic use is descriptive rather than systematic; the same epithet can be found in plants, animals, and other organisms described by different authors. As with other Latin names, the adjective must agree in gender with the genus name, and its exact meaning is clarified in the original species description, where the author explains why the term was chosen.

Notes on interpretation emphasize that the precise sense of “chain-like” can vary by organism and context. Researchers seeking information on a species with the epithet catenatus should consult the original taxonomic description or subsequent taxonomic revisions for details about the morphology that inspired the name.

See also: Latin binomial nomenclature, catena (biology), species epithet.