neglectus

Neglectus is a Latin adjective and past participle meaning neglected or overlooked. It derives from the verb neglego, neglegere, with the perfect passive participle neglectus (masculine), neglecta (feminine), and neglectum (neuter). In Latin grammar, these endings reflect gender and are carried into modern scientific Latin usage.

In biological nomenclature, neglectus commonly appears as a specific epithet in masculine form, with neglecta and neglectum used for feminine and neuter genera, respectively. As a species epithet, neglectus does not establish a fixed biological meaning beyond the descriptor implied by the author who coined the name. It is generally chosen to signal that the taxon was once neglected, overlooked, or insufficiently studied, either in the field, in collections, or in prior taxonomic work. The epithet is treated as an invariant Latin word when combined with a genus name, though the genus itself determines the appropriate gender agreement.

Usage notes include that neglectus is one of many descriptive Latin epithets used in taxonomy to convey a historical or observational attribute of the taxon. It is not a taxonomic rank or taxonomic concept by itself. Because Latin adjectives must agree with the gender of the genus, the form of the epithet changes accordingly.

See also: Latin binomial nomenclature, taxonomic epithets, grammatical agreement in species names.