cayennensis

cayennensis is a Latinized species epithet used in the binomial nomenclature of living organisms. The form derives from Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, and is used to indicate geographic origin or where the type specimen was collected.

The suffix -ensis denotes origin and is common in taxonomic naming, producing forms such as cayennensis for masculine or feminine genera; neuter would be cayennense.

The epithet appears across a wide range of taxa, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. When used, it can reflect collection in the Cayenne area or broader Guiana region, including rainforests of the Guianas or coastal areas near Cayenne.

As with other toponymic epithets, cayennensis can create confusion if the same or similar epithet is used for specimens from nearby regions or if historical records are unclear about the collecting locality. Catalogs and taxonomic revisions typically clarify the provenance and current status of names, including any type specimens.

In taxonomy, cayennensis is not a taxon by itself but a descriptive element within a binomial name. Its interpretation is contingent on the genus and the original description.