pictus

Pictus is a Latin adjective meaning painted or pictured. In biological nomenclature, pictus is commonly used as the masculine singular form of a species epithet, applied across many genera to denote a marked or patterned appearance. The epithet signals a descriptive trait rather than a close evolutionary relationship, and it appears in both animal and plant names, as well as in fungi.

In zoology, pictus appears in the names of several species. The best known in the aquarium hobby is Pimelodus pictus, commonly called the pictus catfish, a slender freshwater catfish native to South America. It is often noted for a patterned, spotted coloration and is kept in community freshwater tanks. The epithet is also found in other aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates, generally indicating some form of notable spotting or mottling.

In botany and mycology, pictus likewise appears in species names, applied to plants and fungi with distinctive patterns on leaves, petals, fruiting bodies, or surfaces. As in zoology, the name is descriptive rather than taxonomically diagnostic of relatedness.

Taxonomic usage: The epithet pictus can be used across unrelated genera, so species bearing the name are not necessarily closely related. Its application is governed by the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature, and it can recur in multiple lineages, reflecting a common practice of descriptive naming in taxonomy. Overall, pictusHighlights a visual trait recognized by the describer at the time of naming.