Apotype

/ˈæpətaɪp/ noun

Definition

In zoology, an individual specimen that is not the original type specimen but is designated as a reference example.

Etymology

From Greek apo- 'away from, apart' and typos 'type,' literally 'a copy or example away from the original type.'

Kelly Says

When scientists discover a new species, they designate one specimen as the official 'type'—but apotypes are backups, showing how museums create taxonomic insurance policies in case the original is lost or destroyed!

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