Hemitype

/ˈhɛmɪtaɪp/ noun

Definition

In biology, an organism or specimen that represents only half or an incomplete example of a type.

Etymology

From hemi- (half) + type (from Greek typos meaning impression or pattern). Emerged in evolutionary biology and paleontology to classify partial specimens.

Kelly Says

A hemitype is like a fossil that's only partially complete—paleontologists use this term when they find a specimen that shows some features of a type clearly but others are missing or unclear, which helps them understand evolutionary transitions.

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