pectinata

Pectinata is a Latin-derived epithet used in the scientific names of various species across plants, animals, and fungi. The term is not a taxon itself but a descriptive adjective, typically translated as “comb-shaped” or “having a comb-like structure.” It is chosen to highlight a morphology that resembles a comb, such as a segmented, toothed, or setose arrangement.

In usage, pectinata appears in diverse groups to indicate different features that resemble a comb. In botany, it may describe leaves or leaf margins that are toothed in a way reminiscent of comb teeth. In entomology and other zoological fields, it can refer to structures such as comb-like antennae, scales, or other appendages. The common thread is the presence of a bilateral series of projections or segments arranged in a manner reminiscent of a comb.

As with many Latin epithets, the precise meaning of pectinata depends on the context provided by the species description and its diagnostic characters. Because it is a descriptive epithet, different taxa bearing the name may use the term to refer to different features that simply share the “comb-like” characteristic.

Related terms include pectinate, which is an English botanical and zoological modifier derived from the same root. In addition, some genera, such as Pectinatella in bryozoology, derive their name from the same comb-like imagery, illustrating how the root appears across taxonomy.