keeferi

Keeferi is a Latinized specific epithet used in the scientific names of various organisms to honor a person with the surname Keefer. In binomial nomenclature, the epithet is written in lowercase and follows the genus name, forming a two-part name for a species or other taxon.

Etymology and grammatical form: The suffix -i typically indicates a masculine honoree in Latinized taxonomic naming, while -ae would indicate a feminine honoree and -orum a plural or collective tribute. Keeferi does not by itself identify a taxon; rather, it is a component chosen by the taxonomist describing a species. The exact origin—whether honoring an individual, a family, or a place associated with the name Keefer—is specified in the original description of each species.

Taxonomic usage: The epithet keeferi can occur across different biological groups whenever a practitioner selects this patronymic to recognize a contributor or associate linked to Keefer. It is part of the species name within the broader context of genus placement and rank, and it does not denote anything about the biology or ecology of the organism in a general sense. Each occurrence is specific to the genus and species described in a formal taxonomic work.

Notes: The same epithet may appear independently in different genera, resulting in multiple unrelated species that share the keeferi epithet. For precise information about a particular keeferi species, consult the original taxonomic publication and updated nomenclatural databases.

See also: Taxonomic epithet, Patronym in taxonomy, Binomial nomenclature.