purulentus

Purulentus is a Latin adjective meaning "pus-like" or "containing pus." In biological nomenclature, it is used as a species epithet in the scientific names of various organisms. As an epithet, purulentus does not denote a single taxon; rather, it signals a characteristic observed in the described species, such as a purulent appearance, discharge, or coloration, or a lesion-like feature noted by the describer.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin purulentus, from pus, with the suffix -ulentus indicating a characteristic. Gender forms include purulentus (masculine), purulenta (feminine), and purulentum (neuter) to agree with the genus name.

Taxonomic usage: Because epithets are descriptive rather than diagnostic, purulentus is not a universal trait across a group. Researchers should consult the original species description to understand the context of the epithet for each taxon.

See also: Purulence, Pus, Taxonomic epithet, Latin in scientific naming.