saharensis

Saharensis is a Latin-derived species epithet used in scientific names to indicate a connection with the Sahara region in North Africa. In binomial and trinomial nomenclature, the suffix -ensis is a common Latin adjective meaning “belonging to” or “originating from,” and saharensis is the form used for species associated with the Sahara.

Because saharensis is not a standalone taxon, it appears across many different genera and higher groups. It may refer to a plant, animal, fungus, or microorganism that was described from specimens collected in or around the Sahara, or to those that primarily inhabit Saharan ecosystems such as deserts, dune fields, or oases. The epithet is a geographic descriptor rather than a taxonomic rank.

A species bearing saharensis is not necessarily restricted to the Sahara; subsequent range expansions or reclassifications can alter distribution, but the epithet typically remains as part of the original name unless taxonomic changes warrant renaming.

See also: Latin and scientific naming conventions; geographic epithets; Sahara.