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Type (biology)

Specimen(s) to which a scientific name is formally attached / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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In biology, a type is a particular specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally associated. In other words, a type is an example that serves to anchor or centralizes the defining features of that particular taxon. In older usage (pre-1900 in botany), a type was a taxon rather than a specimen.[1]

Marocaster_coronatus_MHNT.PAL.2010.2.2_%28Close_up%29.jpg
Type specimen for Marocaster coronatus

A taxon is a scientifically named grouping of organisms with other like organisms, a set that includes some organisms and excludes others, based on a detailed published description (for example a species description) and on the provision of type material, which is usually available to scientists for examination in a major museum research collection, or similar institution.[1][2]