nitidum

Nitidum is a Latin adjective used in biological nomenclature as a neuter singular epithet in species names. It derives from nitidus, meaning bright, shining, or polished, and it is commonly translated as glossy or gleaming when describing a feature of the taxon. In scientific naming, nitidum is chosen to reflect a noticeable surface quality or coloration, such as a glossy leaf, a polished shell, or iridescent markings, but the precise trait indicated can vary with the genus.

As with other Latin adjectives, nitidum agrees in gender with the genus name. It typically appears in the neuter form nitidum when the genus is neuter, whereas masculine or feminine forms (nitidus, nitida) would be used with corresponding genera. This gender agreement is a standard feature of binomial nomenclature established by Linnaeus and retained in modern taxonomy.

Because nitidum appears in many unrelated species across plants, animals, and other groups, the epithet by itself does not identify a single taxon. To locate or refer to a particular species, the full binomial name, authorship, and usually a date are required. The recurrent use of nitidum across taxa reflects a descriptive tradition in taxonomy, where Latin adjectives commonly describe notable external traits of the organism.