wallacii

Wallacii is a Latinized specific epithet used in the scientific names of organisms to honor Alfred Russel Wallace, a 19th-century British naturalist whose work on biogeography and natural selection contributed to evolutionary theory. The epithet is typically the genitive form of Wallace in Latin and is used as the second part of a binomial name.

Formation and spelling: In zoological and botanical nomenclature, patronyms honor individuals by adapting the surname with a Latin ending. For male honorees, endings such as -i or -ii are common, with wallacii being one such form. The exact spelling can vary depending on the author and the rules of the relevant nomenclature code; in some genera the epithet may appear as wallacei or other variants. The important point is that wallacii signals a tribute to Wallace rather than any particular biological trait.

Usage across taxa: The epithet wallacii appears in the scientific names of species across a range of groups in both zoology and botany, reflecting the practice of naming new species to recognize notable scientists. The presence of wallacii in a name does not convey information about the organism’s biology or ecology; those details are described in the species’ own description and literature.

Notable considerations: Because wallacii is a patronym applied to different genera, multiple distinct species may bear the epithet simultaneously. Taxonomic authorities are responsible for preserving the original spelling and citing the correct authority and year. In historical literature, other similar epithet forms such as wallacei or wallacii may appear, requiring careful verification of the exact spelling in each case.