specific epithet

specific epithet

English

Noun

specific epithet (plural specific epithets)

1. (taxonomy) The second (uncapitalized) word in the scientific name of a species, following the name of the genus.

   In Cannabis sativa, the word sativa is the specific epithet.

Usage notes

• The term specific epithet usually refers to the second element in the formal name of a plant, fungus, or bacterium. The corresponding element in the formal name of an animal is normally called its specific name.

Synonyms

• species epithet

Related terms

• epithet
• species

Translations

(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species

Chinese: Mandarin: 種名／种名 (zh) French: épithète spécifique (fr) f German: Artbeiname m, Artname m (in a strict sense), Artzusatz m (rare), Artepitheton (de) n/Art-Epitheton n, spezifisches Epitheton (de) n, Speciesbeiname m, Speciesname m, Artepithet n Japanese: 種小名 (shushōmei) Portuguese: epiteto específico m (Zoology) Romanian: epitet specific n Volapük: sotanem

See also

• genus name
• species name