taitensis

Taitensis is a Latin adjectival epithet used in the scientific names of species to indicate origin from a place named Taita or from a locality bearing that name. It is not a standalone taxon.

The epithet is formed from the toponym Taita with the Latin suffix -ensis meaning “from” or “belonging to.” The exact locality can vary; the original description usually specifies the type locality, which may be the Taita Hills in southeastern Kenya or another place associated with the name.

In zoological and botanical nomenclature, taitensis appears as the species epithet in a binomial or trinomial name, written in lowercase and typically italicized along with the genus. The use of -ensis signals geographic origin rather than a descriptive trait.

Because toponyms can be reused, the presence of taitensis does not by itself identify a single region without examining the taxonomic source. Similar forms such as tahitensis refer to Tahiti, illustrating how -ensis forms link species to places.