holotypenäyte

Holotypus (plural holotypes) is a term used in biological nomenclature. It refers to a single specimen or illustration on which the name of a taxon is based. The holotypus serves as the definitive reference point for that taxon. When a new species is described, the author must designate a holotypus. This specimen is crucial for understanding the characteristics of the species and for distinguishing it from other similar organisms.

The holotypus is typically preserved in a recognized scientific collection, such as a natural history museum or a university herbarium. This ensures its availability for future study by other researchers. If the original holotypus is lost or destroyed, a new specimen can be designated as a neotypus, which then serves as the substitute holotypus. The concept of the holotypus is fundamental to the stability and universality of biological nomenclature, allowing scientists worldwide to refer to the same organism when discussing a particular species.