modificatus

Modificatus is a Latin adjective meaning "modified" or "altered." It derives from the verb modificare, to modify, and the participial suffix -atus. In Latin, it appears in three gendered forms: modificatus (masculine), modificata (feminine), and modificatum (neuter), with the form agreeing with the noun it describes.

In taxonomic usage, modificatus functions as an adjectival epithet. It is not a taxonomic rank by itself but a descriptive label applied to a species, subspecies, or other taxon to indicate alteration or variation from a reference form. When used in binomial nomenclature, the epithet must agree in gender with the genus: for a masculine genus such as Canis, Canis modificatus; for a feminine genus such as Felis, Felis modificata; for a neuter genus such as Rhus, Rhus modificatum. The term signals that the taxon is a modified, varied, or morphologically distinct form relative to an established type.

Beyond taxonomy, modificatus occurs in Latin texts to describe modifications in manuscripts, specimens, or descriptions, reflecting altered features or revised interpretations. In modern scientific practice, the adjective remains descriptive but is not widely singled out as a standardized designation; more precise terms or formal taxonomic levels are commonly used to convey similar meaning.

See also: Latin grammar; biological nomenclature; taxonomic epithet; morphological variation.