pacificus

pacificus is a Latin adjective used in biological nomenclature. In taxonomy, it appears as a species epithet in the scientific names of many plants and animals, paired with a genus name to form a binomial.

Etymology and forms

The term derives from Latin pacificus, meaning peaceful or pacifying. It has gendered forms that must agree with the genus: pacificus for masculine, pacifica for feminine, and pacificum for neuter. This grammatical agreement is a standard feature of Latin-based scientific naming conventions.

Taxonomic usage

Pacificus is not a taxon on its own; rather, it functions as the second part of a binomial name. The epithet can reflect a characteristic attributed by the describer (for example, a calm demeanor, a peaceful appearance, or an intended sense of pacification) or a geographic association with the Pacific region. The exact rationale is typically provided in the species description or etymology note in the original publication.

Geographic or descriptive interpretations

In some cases, pacificus may indicate that the species was first identified near Pacific habitats or regions adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. In others, it may be chosen for symbolic reasons or to contrast with related species. Because epithets are chosen by authors, there is no universal rule tying pacificus to a specific trait beyond the general meaning of the word.

See also

pacifica, pacificum, taxonomy, binomial nomenclature.