inopinata

Inopinata is a binomial species epithet used in the scientific names of various organisms. Derived from Latin inopinatus, meaning unforeseen or unexpected, the feminine form inopinata agrees with feminine genus names; the neuter form is inopinatum.

Etymology and form: The epithet reflects the Latin root for unexpectedness and is adapted to the gender of the genus when the species was named. As with other Latin adjectives in taxonomy, inopinata must match the grammatical gender of the genus it accompanies.

Taxonomic usage: Inopinata is not a name for a single taxon but a descriptive epithet applied to many distinct species across different groups. It is commonly used when the species was discovered unexpectedly, during exploratory work, or when the describers noted an unusual or surprising feature. The epithet itself does not imply close phylogenetic relationships among all species that bear it.

Examples and scope: The epithet appears across plants, fungi, and animals. Because it is a descriptive term rather than a reference to a particular lineage, numerous unrelated genera have species with the epithet inopinata. In some cases, subsequent taxonomic revisions have reassigned species to different genera, while the epithet remains part of the original species name.

Related forms: The Latin masculine and neuter forms are inopinatus and inopinatum, respectively, with inopinata used for feminine genera.

See also: Latin nomenclature, binomial nomenclature, taxonomic naming conventions, epithet semantics.