timorensis

Timorensis is a Latin geographic epithet used in the scientific names of organisms to indicate origin from Timor, an island in Maritime Southeast Asia. The epithet is appended to a genus name to form a binomial name and signals a connection to Timor rather than a description of appearance or behavior.

Timor lies north of Australia and is divided between the sovereign state of Timor-Leste (East Timor) and the Indonesian province of West Timor. The epithet timorensis reflects the history of biological exploration and cataloging of Timorese biodiversity, and it is widely used across taxonomic groups to denote Timorese provenance or association.

In taxonomy, timorensis appears in plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms. It is a common geographic descriptor that helps distinguish species described from Timor or from material collected there. Because many unrelated organisms may share the epithet, timorensis is not a unique identifier by itself; the full binomial name (genus plus species epithet) is required to specify a particular species.

As with other Latin epithets, timorensis is a conventional, standardized form that conveys geographic origin. Its usage illustrates how biogeography is embedded in scientific naming, aiding researchers in understanding a species’ origin and distribution.

See also: Timor, Latin geographic epithets, Taxonomic nomenclature.