exigua

Exigua is the feminine form of the Latin adjective exiguus, meaning small, scanty, or meager. In scientific nomenclature, exigua (as well as exiguus and exiguum) is used as a descriptive epithet intended to indicate small size relative to related taxa. The form chosen depends on the gender of the genus name with which it is paired.

In botanical and zoological names, exiguus, exigua, or exiguum functions as a descriptive marker rather than a permanent label. It is applied to a variety of organisms to suggest diminutive stature, reduced features, or a localized form, though the precise characteristics it signals can vary by group and historical naming practices. Because Latin adjectives must agree in gender and number with their genus, the epithet appears in different endings corresponding to the genus’s gender.

Usage of exigua is widespread enough to appear across many taxa, but its presence does not guarantee a uniform trait across species. Modern taxonomic descriptions may specify the exact size, morphology, or ecological context that led to the name, and in some cases the epithet reflects historical observations rather than current measurements. As with other Latin descriptors, exigua serves as a concise, conventional cue within the scientific name to convey a particular descriptive impression to readers familiar with taxonomic naming.

See also: Latin in biological nomenclature, taxonomic epithets, exiguus.