pecatonicaensis

Pecatonicaensis is a suffix used in scientific nomenclature, most notably in paleontology. It indicates that a fossil specimen was discovered in the Pecatonica River region, which is located in the midwestern United States, primarily in Illinois and Wisconsin. This naming convention serves to acknowledge the geological context and origin of the discovery.

The term "pecatonicaensis" is often appended to the genus name of a newly described species. For example, a species of trilobite found in the Pecatonica Formation might be named *Genus pecatonicaensis*. This practice helps scientists track the geographical distribution of extinct organisms and understand their paleoecology. The Pecatonica Formation itself is a significant geological unit, known for its rich fossil content, particularly from the Ordovician period. The designation "pecatonicaensis" therefore directly links a specific organism to this important fossil-bearing strata and its associated environment.