periculosus

Periculosus is a Latin adjective meaning dangerous, perilous, or hazardous. In scholarly writing it appears in classical Latin as an adjective and, in modern biological nomenclature, as a species epithet used to convey danger or a hazardous trait associated with the organism or its habitat.

In taxonomy, periculosus may appear as a specific epithet within a binomial name. The epithet agrees in gender with the genus: periculosus (masculine), periculosa (feminine), or periculosum (neuter). The choice of epithet can reflect characteristics such as venom, aggressiveness, or a dangerous environment rather than an absolute or lifelong trait, and it does not guarantee contemporary confirmation of danger.

Etymologically, periculosus derives from the Latin periculum meaning danger, combined with the suffix -osus meaning “full of” or “abounding in.” The term has a long history in Latin literature to describe hazardous situations, places, or actions, and its use in taxonomy echoes this association by signaling notable risk or harm tied to the organism or its discovery context.

In practice, periculosus is one of many Latin descriptors used by taxonomists to encode qualitative impressions in a formal name. Its presence invites caution in interpretation, as epithet choices can reflect the describer’s perspective at the time of naming and may not always align with current assessments of danger. See also: Latin in biological nomenclature, ICZN guidelines.