when assigning a scientific name to an organism

It must be defined – what features (behavioural, anatomical, genetic) mark it out as being unique and new, and how can it be distinguished from close relatives. Secondly, a description of the news species is required.

This makes them critical to biology as a field, since the holotypes help define species.

Museums naturally place great importance on holotypes and paratypes and major collections like the Smithsonian or the Natural History Museum in London may hold hundreds of holotypes. These specimens must be held in museums (typically, though there are some exceptions) where they can be accessed by other researchers and will be kept in the appropriate conditions to ensure they are preserved for posterity. A taxonomist may also identify a series of paratypes, related specimens that show additional features (like different colour patterns, or juveniles, or a male if the holotype is a female) but that also help identify the species.

It should show the key features that help identify the species and mark it out as unique and new. This is the single specimen that acts as the identifier for the entire species. Sadly this is not just a case of dreaming up an interesting moniker and announcing it to the world (though that is part of it) but a reliable source of information and documentation of the identity of the species is required for the new form.įirst of all a holotype must be designated. Once you have identified what you think is a new species, it will require a name.

When assigning a scientific name to an organism