10 INTRODUCTION. 



PRIMARY TYPES, OR PROTEROTYPES. 



HoLOTYPE (Scliuchei't, 1897). — A holotype in natural histor}- is a 

 particular individual deliberatel}^ selected by the author of a species, or 

 it may be the only example of a species known at the time of original 

 publication. A holotj^pe therefore is always a single individual, but may 

 embrace one or more parts, as the skin, skeleton, or other portions, such 

 as the obverse and reverse of a natural mold. When a holot5'pe is 

 .selected, but other specimens are also described, the latter must be 

 known as paratypes. When no holotype is selected, and more than one 

 specimen is described, all become cotypes. Therefore, the original 

 material of any species can not include a holotype and cotj'pes, but may 

 include a holotype and paratype, or all may be cotypes. 



Among zoologists and botanists, it is almost general to u.se the term 

 "type" in the .sense that holotype is here used. Palmer" defines type 

 as follows: "A type is the identical individual specimen from which 

 a species has been described." Underwood* states: "By a type is 

 meant botanically the original specimen from which the .species was 

 described when it was first made known." 



In cases where a holotype is selected, but is neither marked nor a 

 descripti(3n given to distinguish it from the associated materials, the 

 holotype practically does not exi.st. 



In cases wdiere a holotype has been .selected, but the diagnosis is fovuid 

 to contain more than one species, the remaining material will alwaj'S 

 con.stitute the paratypes of the original description. The.se will not neces- 

 .sarily remain as such under another name. 



The author of a new .species having failed to select a holotype, no 

 subsequent author can do this for him. No just law is retroactive. How- 

 ever, when but a single individual is figured, the original of the proTo- 

 GRAPH (new) is to be regarded as the holotype. (Protoloo = original 

 description; proTograph = original figure, according to Buckman.) 



Where the sexes are different and can be distinguished, a male or a 

 female specimen should be selected as the holotype, but not both. 



A species described as new, and proving to be a synonym, does not 

 affect the type material of the .species with which it is sjaionymous. All 

 such synonymous material, however, should be carefully preserved and 

 marked as holotype or cotype under the original name as well as under 

 the one of which it is knowni to be a .synonym. 



To the writer it does not seem necessary to coin other terms for parts 

 of a holotype where species are made up of separable parts. In all such 

 cases exactness can be secured by writing holotype (obverse), holotype 

 (dor.sal vertebra), holotype (right valve), etc. 



See also neotype. 



a Index Generum Mammalium, 1904, p. 20. b Science, July 21, 1899, p. 72. 



