ovatus

Ovatus is a Latin adjective used in biological nomenclature to describe an egg-shaped or oval form. In scientific names, the epithet ovatus agrees in gender with the genus: ovatus (masculine), ovata (feminine), or ovatum (neuter). The root is ovum, the Latin word for egg, with the suffix -atus indicating “possessing” or “characterized by.”

Taxonomic usage: The epithet is applied across both zoological and botanical naming to indicate morphology, commonly referring to leaves, seeds, fruits, shells, or the body shape that resembles an oval or egg. It is descriptive rather than indicative of phylogeny and often reflects historical observations at the time of naming.

Examples: Epithets such as ovatus appear in numerous species across different groups, illustrating the widespread practice of using morphological traits as naming aids. Because Latin grammar governs epithets, the ending must match the gender of the genus.

Comparisons: Similar Latin descriptors include ovata (feminine) and ovatum (neuter). The English equivalents are “oval” or “egg-shaped,” and the term is frequently encountered in taxonomic literature when describing shape.

See also: Oval, Ovate, Binomial nomenclature, Latin in taxonomy.