coloratum

Coloratum is a Latin neuter singular adjective meaning colored, or dyed. In scientific usage, it has historically functioned as a descriptive term in taxonomy to indicate notable coloration of a specimen or organism. The word derives from color, coloris, the Latin noun for color, and the participial suffix -atus, yielding coloratus (masculine), colorata (feminine), and coloratum (neuter).

In taxonomic names, coloratum can appear as an epithet or within a descriptive phrase. When used as a specific epithet, it must agree in gender with the genus name—coloratum is the neuter form; coloratus would appear with masculine genera, and colorata with feminine ones. Beyond epithets, coloratum appears in original species descriptions to denote coloration patterns or color variation noted by the author.

Today, the term is primarily of historical interest. Contemporary taxonomic practice often supplements or replaces simple color descriptors with more precise color terminology or standardized color references, and the epithet coloratum remains a historical example of Latin descriptive practice. See also color, coloration, and Latin grammatical agreement in taxonomic names.