What does holotype, isotype, neotype, topotype, paratypemean?
Answers
In biology and botany, a holotype is the original specimen used to describe a new species for the first time. There is only one holotype.
An allotype is a specimen of the opposite sex used to describe the species for the first time (often, but not always, at the same time as the holotype).
A neotype is a replacement specimen for the holotype, where the original holotype has been lost, destroyed or was never designated.
A paratype is any specimen deposited into a lab or museum collection to be used as the definition of the species in that facility.
A syntype is a collection of specimens that together serve as the definition of the species where a holotype was never selected (syntypes are now frowned upon).
A lectotype is a single specimen of a syntype (series of specimens) selected to serves as the neotype of the species, where the species was previously defined by the syntype.
A paralectotype are the specimens left over from the syntype (series of specimens) once the lectotype has been selected.