indicus

Indicus is a Latin adjective used in biological nomenclature to indicate origin from the Indian subcontinent or related regions. In the binomial names of living organisms, indicus functions as the species epithet rather than as a separate taxon, and its form typically agrees with the gender of the genus.

The best-known example is Bos indicus, the zebu cattle, domesticated in the Indian subcontinent and now found in many parts of the world. Zebu cattle are notable for features such as a distinctive hump, loose skin, and heat tolerance, and they play an important role in agriculture and breeding in tropical climates.

Beyond Bos indicus, the epithet appears in a variety of other taxa to signal Indian origin or association. In some cases, indicus has appeared in older or historical classifications (for example, as part of names such as Bos primigenius indicus), reflecting past taxonomic treatments; modern classifications may differ in rank or placement.

In general, indicus, like other geographic epithets, conveys information about the type locality or presumed origin of the species. However, the use of geographic epithets can reflect historical ranges or naming conventions and may not consistently denote current distribution.

Origin and usage: The term indicus derives from Latin and means “of India.” It has been used in taxonomy since the early era of scientific naming and continues to appear in various species names across animals and, less commonly, plants and other organisms.