specialis

Specialis is a Latin adjective meaning “of a particular kind” or “special.” In scientific nomenclature, the form is used as a species epithet in binomials to mark a distinctive trait of a species or its relationship to another species. It is not a taxon by itself.

Etymology and grammar: From Latin specialis, the term is a third-declension adjective. In zoological and botanical names, the epithet agrees with the gender of the generic name: masculine and feminine nominatives are typically specialis, while neuter nominative is speciale. The exact form can vary with the genus, reflecting standard Latin agreement rules used in binomial nomenclature.

Taxonomic usage: The epithet specialis appears across taxa, in plants, animals, and microbes, and is chosen by the describing author to flag a distinctive feature (such as morphology, ecology, or geographic relation) or its status as a close relative of another species. The same epithet can occur in many different genera, so it does not imply any direct relationship between those taxa beyond that descriptor. The full species name is created by combining genus name and epithet, and its formation is governed by the relevant codes (ICZN for animals, ICN for plants).

Notes: The use of specialis as an epithet reflects descriptive naming practices rather than any universal taxonomic meaning. Taxonomic revisions can change species names, but the epithet itself remains a historical record of the describer’s emphasis on a notable characteristic.