holotype

American  

[hol-uh-tahyp, hoh-luh-] / ˈhɒl əˌtaɪp, ˈhoʊ lə- /

noun

Biology.

1. the type specimen used in the original description of a species.

---

holotype British  

/ ˈhɒləˌtaɪp, ˌhɒləˈtɪpɪk /

noun

1. biology another name for type specimen

---

holotype Scientific  

/ hŏl′ə-tīp′,hō′lə- /

1. The single specimen or illustration designated as the type for naming a species or subspecies or used as the basis for naming a species or subspecies when no type has been selected.

2. Also called type species

---

Other Word Forms

• holotypic adjective

Etymology

Origin of holotype

First recorded in 1895–1900; holo- + -type

Example Sentences

The frog had been incorrectly identified and designated as a holotype, which is the single preserved specimen used to officially define a species.

From Science Daily

A collaborative team that included Dinosaur Institute Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Zach Morris studied the disputed Nanotyrannus holotype -- the specimen originally used to identify the species -- with a close focus on its throat bone.

From Science Daily

It is one of the first members of the class Monoplacophora to have a high-quality genome published directly from its holotype specimen.

From Science Daily

This first specimen described, called the holotype, still resides in the Natural History Museum in London.

From Science Daily

The result of this rich digital data is a 'cybertype' of a single animal, rather than a physical 'holotype' that is traditionally found in museum collections.

From Science Daily