holotype

noun

ho·​lo·​type ˈhō-lə-ˌtīp  ˈhä- 

1

: the single specimen designated by an author as the type of a species or lesser taxon at the time of establishing the group

2

: the type of a species or lesser taxon designated at a date later than that of establishing a group or by a person other than the author of the taxon

holotypic

ˌhō-lə-ˈti-pik 

ˌhä-

adjective

Examples of holotype in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The holotype specimen was named Bathygnathus borealis. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2024

And here, the holotypes of Torukjara bandeirae (left) and Caiuajara dobruskii (right). —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 June 2024

Indeed, when there is no way of identifying what species the said fragmentary specimen belongs to, based on the lack of more complete remains, giving it a new species name should be avoided altogether until a relatively complete specimen can serve as a holotype. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2018

In their 2014 paper, however, Ibrahim’s team described their dinosaur as the neotype — essentially a new holotype — replacing Stromer’s lost dinosaur as the standard-bearer of the species. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 15 May 2016

Should, for example, researchers leave new fossils unclassified, or tentatively assigned to a genera, until a relatively complete specimen can serve as a holotype (the defining individual of a species)? —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2018

Another view of the holotype of C. yingi as it was preserved in amber for 100 million years... —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2018

The holotype specimen, used to describe the species, was a juvenile male given the name Karabo. —Russ Juskalian, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2016

One of the papers describes the holotype, or exemplar, of the species, as well as a second specimen. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

holotype

noun

ho·​lo·​type ˈhō-lə-ˌtīp  ˈhäl-ə- 

1

: the single specimen designated by an author as the type of a species or lesser taxon at the time of establishing the group

2

: the type of a species or lesser taxon designated at a date later than that of establishing a group or by another person than the author of the taxon