convolutus

Convolutus is a Latin adjective meaning "rolled together," "coiled," or "twisted." In biological nomenclature, convolutus is commonly used as a species epithet in zoology and botany to describe organisms with coiled or curled morphology. The term is not itself a taxon but appears in the scientific names of many species across diverse genera.

Etymology and grammar: The word derives from the Latin convolere, "to roll together." In binomial names, the ending agrees with the genus gender: convolutus (masculine), convoluta (feminine), or convolutum (neuter).

Usage: In animals, an epithet like convolutus may reference features such as a spiraled shell, a coiled body part, or a twisted appendage. In plants, it may describe curled leaves, pods, or inflorescences. Because it describes a morphological trait rather than a single lineage, convolutus occurs in many different groups.

Taxonomic notes: Some historical or obsolete classifications have used convolutus as a genus or part of a species name that has since been revised. Today, the epithet is applied in many different genera, with no single taxon carrying the name convolutus alone.