guttata

Guttata is a Latin adjective used in the scientific names of a wide range of organisms to denote a spotted, freckled, or dotted appearance. In taxonomy, guttata appears as the feminine form of guttatus and is used as a species epithet in combination with a given genus. The root gutta means a drop or bead, and guttatus or guttata is commonly interpreted as describing markings that resemble small drops or speckles, though the exact sense can vary among different organisms.

As a descriptive descriptor rather than a taxonomic rank, guttata appears across many unrelated groups, including plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates. The epithet does not imply any close relationship between the species bearing it; it simply indicates a shared characteristic—usually a visible dotted or speckled pattern. The gender of the epithet agrees with the genus name: guttata for feminine genera, guttatus for masculine or neuter genera.

In taxonomic literature, guttata may be part of compound species names and is one of many Latin descriptors used to convey a conspicuous morphological trait. The term is distinct from other, similarly derived words. For example, in English, guttate describes a speckled or dotted appearance, while guttation refers to the physiological process by which some plants exude droplets at leaf margins, a concept unrelated to the naming of species.

See also: guttate, guttation.