parvum

Parvum is a Latin adjective meaning small or little. In biology and taxonomy, parvum is not a stand-alone taxon but is commonly used as a species epithet in the binomial names of many organisms to indicate a small size or dwarf form.

Etymology and grammar: Parvum is the neuter singular form of the Latin adjective parvus. In scientific names, epithets are chosen to agree with the gender of the genus name, so parvum appears in its neuter form where the genus is neuter or where Latin grammar requires that form, in accordance with the rules of botanical and zoological nomenclature.

Usage in nomenclature: The epithet parvum appears across diverse taxonomic groups, including animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and protists. Its presence signals that the named organism is comparatively small within its genus or species complex. However, parvum alone conveys no standardized biological trait beyond size or relative smallness, and its meaning can vary with context and the specific genus.

Notable considerations: Because parvum is part of a larger naming system rather than a taxon, its interpretation depends on the genus and the original species description. To understand the significance of a specific name containing parvum, researchers consult the formal description and diagnostic characteristics provided by the authority who described the species.

See also: parvus, Latin in scientific naming, binomial nomenclature.