Monotypic
From Free net encyclopedia
Monotypic is an adjective, that refers to a taxonomic group with only one type:
- in botany it means that a taxon has only one species; Ginkgo is a monotypic genus, while Ginkgoaceae is a monotypic family. The phrase is not really accurate, as it assumes that a species includes only a single type. This is not necessarily the case as a species may include several subspecies (or other infraspecific taxa) each of which will have a type. A more accurate term is "unispecific".
- An example is the genus Darlingtonia, with only one species: Darlingtonia californica.
- in zoology "monotypic" refers to a taxonomic group with only one subgroup at the next taxonomic level, for example, a monotypic genus has only one species. Conversely, one can say that the contained group is monotypic within the larger group; a genus monotypic within a family.
- An example is the genus Tarsius which is monotypic within the Tarsiidae family (which is itself monotypic in Tarsiiformes).
[edit]
See also
- polytypic
- race for a more detailed definition of monotypic in the context of a species, and its relevance regarding the species Homo sapiens