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.

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holotype British  

/ ˈhɒləˌtaɪp, ˌhɒləˈtɪpɪk /

noun

1. biology another name for type specimen

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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

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Other Word Forms

• holotypic adjective

Etymology

Origin of holotype

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

Example Sentences

The problem came to light years later when herpetologists visiting the Biodiversity Institute asked to examine the holotype while studying related frog species.

From Science Daily • Jan. 6, 2026

Seago is currently applying for a grant to help locate, consolidate, and digitize holotype specimens at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

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

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s skeleton, nicknamed “the Nation’s T. rex,” has been anointed the holotype for Tyrannosaurus regina.

From New York Times • Feb. 28, 2022

The holotype of Osteocephalus planiceps is a male having a snout-vent length of 58.5 mm.

From A Synopsis of Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Osteocephalus by Duellman, William E.