This document discusses typification and different zoological types. Typification is the process of designating a nomenclatural type, which serves as the standard to define the name of a taxon. There are several types of zoological specimens that can be designated, including holotypes, paratypes, lectotypes, and neotypes. These types provide objective references that allow taxonomists to verify the identity of described species. Designating types is important for definitively concluding whether a newly examined specimen represents a known or new species.

1. TYPIFICATION AND
DIFFERENT ZOOLOGICAL
TYPES
ANAND S
GIRI
M Sc Zoology

2. TYPE AND TYPIFICATION
An object that serves as the basis for the name of a taxon
is known as type .
Type is a specimen (or a group of specimens) which
serves to illustrate the defining characters of a species or
genus.
The type forms the basis for taxonomic description and
the taxonomic description contains mainly the features of
the type.
Type of the family is the genus and that of genus is
species

3.  The methodology used for fixing a type is known as
‘TYPIFICATION’ or The designation of a nomenclatural
type is called TYPIFICATION.
The type may or may not be the most typical member of
the taxon.
The type only fixes the name of particular taxon and the
two are permenently and intimately associated
Type forms the basis for taxonomic description and the
taxonomic description contains mainly the features of the
type

4.  The type belongs to the science once it is published and
won’t remain the sole property of the author .Any
bonafied taxonomist is entitled to examine the type when
required.
 The type specimen is specifically chosen by the original
author or the later taxonomist.
 Types are international standards for scientific names.
 Type specimens are catalogued and usually kept in a
museum or other collection where scientists can access it.

5. DIFFERENT ZOOLOGICAL TYPES

6. Holotype
It is a single specimen selected by the original author to
represent the taxon and so designated or indicated as the
‘type’ .

7. Paratype
 After the holotype has been labeled, any remaining
specimen(s) of the holotype series can be labeled as
paratypes, inorder to identify the individuals of the original
type series.

8. Lectotype
If a type series contains more than one specimen and a
holotype has not been designated, any subsequent worker may
designate one of the specimens as the lectotype.

9. Syntype
When a species is first described the author may choose several
specimens as being representative of the species rather than pick a
single holotype. Each specimen is known as a syntype

10. Neotype
If no holotype, lectotype, syntype is known to exist or lost ;
then the first reviser of The group may select a specimen which
is fully fitting to the original description Of the species. A type
specimen chosen in this manner is called neotype.

11. Allotype
The term allotype may be used to a paratype specimen of the
opposite sex to the holotype .most recent workers have
abandoned this term in their works.

12. Isotype
The specimen which is a duplicate of the holotype with the
same collection data of the holotype.

13. Epitype
A specimen or illustration selected to serve as an interpretative
type when the holotype , lectotype or neotype (all original materials
can’t be critically identified for the purpose of application of the
name of the taxon.)

14. Paralectotypes
When a lectotype is chosen from a syntype series the remaining
specimens become paralectotypes

15. Topotype
A specimen collected at a later date from the same
locality as the holotype of the species.

16. Monotype
 When the holotype of a species is the only specimen known
to science, it is called monotype.

17. SIGNIFICANCE
 Provide an objective reference which can be used by later
scholars to verify the identity of the species being described.
 Important to physically examine previously described species
to definitively conclude that a specimen we have on hand is in
fact new to science.
The type specimen of the earliest described species can
be re-examined as soon as the minute differences of the
species of the sibling complex are understood.
 In order to be valid as a type, a specimen must meet certain
guidelines set forth in the International Code For Zoological
Nomenclature.

18. REFERENCE
Narendran T.C, An introduction to Taxonomy, 2006(Published by the
Director, Zoo. Surv. India, Kolkata).
Theory of Practice of Animal Taxonomy, V.C. Kapoor, Sixth Edition,
Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi,2008
 https://www.studyandscore.com
www.slideshare.net
https://www.plantscience4u.com/2021/04/type-method-or-
typification;.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcolorama
zonia.com.

19. THANK YOU