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Type species [ Taxonomy ]
Synonym: Generitype

Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

     
  A type species (also called generitype) is the type specimen of the nominal species typifying a genus or subgenus;  
     

The description of a genus is based primarily on its type species, modified and expanded by the features of other included species. The generic name is permanently associated with its type species. For example, the type species for the genus Opuntia is Cactus opuntia (currently recognized as Opuntia ficus-indica). This name must be known as part of the genus; Cactus. Presumably, a type species best exemplifies the essential characteristics of the genus to which it belongs; this species then defines the genus for the purpose of deciding whether other species belong to that genus or not.

See: Type, holotype,

 


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