syntype

A syntype is a specimen that was cited in the original description of a taxon when no single specimen was designated as the holotype. If the author described the species using more than one specimen and did not appoint a holotype, each of those specimens is considered a syntype, and together they constitute the type series for the name.

In zoological nomenclature, the existence of syntypes means the name is attached to the whole set of specimens rather than to a single object. To fix the application of the name, a later taxonomist may designate one of the syntypes as a lectotype, which then becomes the name-bearing type. The remaining syntypes, if any, are referred to as paralectotypes. The process of selecting a lectotype helps stabilize the species’ identity when the original material is ambiguous or conflicting.

The concept also appears in botanical nomenclature under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. There, a syntype is likewise a member of the original material cited when no holotype was designated, and lectotypes or other subsequent actions may be used to fix the name’s application.

Syntypes are important for taxonomic revisions because they preserve the provenance of the name and provide material for comparative study. Their designation and subsequent lectotype selection help ensure consistent naming and interpretation of taxa over time.