scenicus

Scenicus is a Latin adjective meaning “theatrical” or “scenic,” derived from the word scena, meaning stage. In scientific naming, scenicus is commonly encountered as a species epithet rather than as a standalone genus name. The forms of the adjective agree with the gender and number of the noun they describe: scenicus (masculine), scenica (feminine), scenicum (neuter), with plurals scenici, scenicae, scenica, respectively.

In taxonomy, scenicus is used across various biological groups as an epithet to evoke a connection to scenery, a theater-related habitat, or simply a descriptive flourish by the author. Its use is informal and not tied to a single lineage, and there is no widely recognized genus named Scenicus. When used in binomials, the epithet must agree in gender and number with the generic name, guiding the spelling and form of scenicus-like epithets in full scientific names.

Beyond biology, scenicus appears in historical or literary contexts as a descriptor related to stagecraft and scenic design, reflecting the term’s theatrical roots.

See also: Latin in scientific nomenclature; species epithet; taxonomic nomenclature.