holotype
Americannoun
noun
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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.
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Also called type species
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of holotype
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the case of Nanotyrannus, most of the holotype consists of skull material filled with sinuses and other irregular features that make it unsuitable for this type of study.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 9, 2025
But designating a neotype "usually relies on other people being able to determine whether or not you can find a specimen of the same species from the same locality" as the holotype, said Seago.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2023
But in Brazil, 90% of holotype fossils described by foreign researchers were housed in foreign collections, which goes against Brazilian law.
From Science Magazine ● Mar. 1, 2022
According to the new proposal, Sue, the Field Museum’s nearly complete T. rex, is now the holotype — the specimen that anchors a species name — of Tyrannosaurus imperator.
From New York Times ● Feb. 28, 2022
Unfortunately no young male of C. m. mearnsi of the same age as the holotype of C. pediculus is available.
From Comments on the Taxonomy and Geographic Distribution of Some North American Marsupials, Insectivores and Carnivores by E. Raymond (Eugene Raymond) Hall
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