Bacteria and Viruses 57 



Rule 9d. Designation of Nomencloturol Types 



The term holot^pe has found little use in bacteriology inasmuch 

 as the nomenclatural types of bacterial species obviously cannot be 

 the dried or preserved specimens used for higher plants and animals. 

 A bacterial type should, if possible, be a living culture. This re- 

 quirement complicates the picture of type designation in bacteriology 

 and emphasizes the importance of Type Culture Collections being 

 what the name indicates, collections containing authentic type cul- 

 tures. 



The definition of "type culture" given above in Rule 9 may be 

 regarded as the bacteriological equivalent of the definition of a holo- 

 type. 



Lectotype (From the Greek, chosen or selected) . The Botanical 

 Code reads: 



A lectotype is a specimen or other element selected from the original 

 material to serve as nomenclatural type when the holotype was not 

 designated at the time of publication or for so long as it is missing. 

 The Zoological Rules define lectotype as: 



A single specimen, selected, after the original publication, from a 

 series of syntypes to be "the type"; such selection, in order to be 

 effective, to be made known by publication. 

 The term lectotype has found little or no use in bacteriology. 

 Neotype (From Greek, new) . The Botanical Code states: 

 A neotype is a specimen selected to serve as nomenclatural type for 

 so long as all of the material on which the name of the taxon was 

 based is missing. 

 The zoological definition is: 



Neotype: A single specimen, identified with a nominal species al- 

 ready described and designated under the prescribed procedure 

 as a unique standard of reference to replace a holotype or lectotype 

 believed to be lost or destroyed. 



.\ large proportion of the type cultures of the species of bacteria 

 will necessarily be neotypes; authentic descendent cultures from origi- 

 nal isolations by authors of names are frequently unavailable. Un- 

 fortunately, few of the cultures maintained in the recognized Type 

 Culture Collections are authentic type cultures. In relatively few 

 cases have type cultures been definitely designated. Study and defi- 

 nite designation of the type cultures (largely neotypes) is a necessary 

 step in stabilization of bacteriological nomenclature. 

 Syntype is defined in zoology as: 



One of a number of specimens of equal nomenclatural rank which 

 formed all or a part of the material before the original author, in 

 those cases where that author did not designate or indicate a holo- 

 type. 

 In botany the statement is: 



One of two or more specimens or elements used by the author 

 when no holotype was designated, or one of the two or more speci- 

 mens simultaneously designated as type. 



