Last Update: 3 November 2017 Part I

M - 78
Typological species concept

Q: Or: What is a type species? Discus various kinds of species types which are used in Type concept with
suitable examples

For years, the type concept dominated taxonomic thought. This postulates that all members of a
taxon conform to a single type. Type concept was based on morphology and when individuals different
from the type were discovered there was a tendency to tack a name them, thus creating a new species. For
example, Weed (1922) described two new species of frog Rana burnsi and Rana kandiyohi because they
looked different.
Only decades later it was proved that unspotted Burnsi type and the spotted Kandiyohi type were
due to two dominant genes of frog R. pipiens and they were not species at all.
Typology stems from Plato and came into taxonomy along with Aristotelian, Neo-platonic,
Scholastic and Thomist philosophy and logic. Its basic concept has; however, been far more pervasive than
the particular systems of the taxonomists. According to this concept, the observed diversity of universe
reflects the existence of a limited number of underlying universals or types (eidos of Plato). Individuals
do not stand in any special relation to each other, being merely expression of the same type. Variation is the
imperfect manifestations of idea implicit in each species. This was also the species concept of Linnaeus and
his followers. The typological definition is also called the essentialist species definition.
Criticisms:
Though some taxonomists Thompson (1952), Bargmeier (1957), Black welder and Boyden (1965)
defined this tenets but Simpson (1961), Hull (1965), Mayr (1963) adequately refused this typological
species concept for two practical reasons:
1) Conspecific variation owing to sexual dimorphism, age differences, polymorphism and for other
cause.
2) Sibling species differ hardly morphologically.

The designation of a nomenclatural type is called typification'. It is the means by which names are
allocated to taxa. The type method is the only way to determine objectively and unequivocally the correct
application of names to various taxa. In modern practice, a single type specimen must be designated for a
new species or subspecies name.
A 'type' is a zoological object on which the original published description of a name is based. It is
the objective basis to which a given zoological name is permanently linked. The type should always be
placed in a reliable public institution, where it can be properly cared for and made available to taxonomists.
Once designated the type cannot be changed, not even by the original author except by exercise of the
plenary powers of the Commission (Article 79) through the designation or a Neotype. The type of a nominal
species is a specimen, that of a nominal genus is a nominal species, and that of a nominal family is a
nominal genus. During the past 130 years the introduction of type method has brought about major
conceptual changes in the theory of taxonomy and nomenclature. Early taxonomic works were dominated by
Aristotelian concept of types. According to this concept all specimens conformed to the taxonomist's
concept of the type of a taxon were considered typical. There were as many types as there were typical
specimens which formed the basis of species description. This concept was followed by Linnaeus and his
contemporaries.
Linnaeus never designated any specimen as type, not even under the circumstances when his
description of a species was based on a single specimen. He even went on to the extent of substituting the-
old specimens by better new ones. 'Linnaean types' were never regarded reliable. The same practice was
followed by others in Europe during the first half of the 19th century. Moreover, another practice frequently
followed by the workers of this period was the transference of labels from one specimen to the other. This
resulted in much more confusion in tracing out the type specimens. Until about the end of 19th century the
impressions of Aristotelian type-concept remained visible. The typification of the higher taxa was done by
the process of 'elimination' of a typical element and even the 1901 Code did not ratify this method for old
cases but ruled for the designation of 'types' for the future works. The International Congress of Zoology
held in Boston in 1947 for the first time provided provisions for designating types of the genera but for
types of species even later. The Article 72b in its various subsections (i-vii) on "Type series" now defines
the true status of type on modern lines.
In terms of the range of variation occurring in a taxon, the type is not necessarily regarged typical of
that taxon. Under these circumstances the purpose of a type is to provide a fixed point associated with a
scientific name in the range of variations of organisms so that the application or the name can be objective1y
and unequivocally determined without taking into consideration the occurrence of discontinuities and
boundaries between taxa.
Boisduval was perhaps the first to label all specimens from which the description was drawn as type
(Holland, 1929). Then the workers started selecting one specimen as the 'type' and the rest were labelled
cotype. Lord Walsingham objected to the use of the term 'cotype' and instead proposed the term 'paratype'
in addition to other compound words like homotype or homoeotype, etc. The process of inventing names
relating with the term type continued. This resulted in numerous different names which led us to believe that
earlier workers were more concerned with the invention of new names for replacing type or expanding it
rather than defining the exact ro1e of the type. Horn (1919) mentioned 119 such words compounded with
the word type. Waterston (1929) preferred the use of only one term, the type. Frizzell (1933) listed as many
as 233 such names. Fernald (1940) listed 108, grouped in three categories-
i) Primary types or Proterotypes (e.g., Allotype, Chierotype, Holotype, Paratype, etc.)
ii) Supplementary types (e.g., Neotype, Heautotype, Plesiotype, etc.) are the described or figured
specimens used by any author to supplement or correct knowledge of previously-defined species
iii) Icotypes (e.g., Homoeotype, Ideotype, Metatype and Topotype), are typical specimens that have been
used in published descriptions or figures but consist of material which the authors have workred on
or such as have been collected at the original locality. Fiscner (1966) gave a list of principal kinds of
types. Blackwelder (1967) grouped such names of the types into the following seven categories
a. Primary types (i.e., the single nomenclatural type, e.g., Holotype, Lectotype, Neotype).
b. Secondary types (i.e., the specimens from which the primary type must be selected, e.g., Syntypes,
Paralectotypes).
c. Tertiary types (i.e., other specimens originally set aside as of special taxonomic interest to
supplement the primary type, e.g., Paratype, Allotype).
d. Specimens identified as of special origin, e.g., Topotypes.
e. Specimens identified as to time or person of identification, e.g., Metatype, Homotypes or
Homoeotypes, etc.
f. Specimens identified as to special treatment or use, e.g., Plesiotypes, Hypotypes, etc.
g. Replicas of type specimens, e.g., Plastotypes.

All these terms together with some more are very often or occasionally used in the zoological
literature. All such terms are explained below:
1) **Allotype: Muttkowski (1910) was the first to introduce this term. It is a specimen of the opposite
sex to the type. It can be designated either at the time of typification or subsequently
2) Genotype: The species, which is designated as the type species of a genus, upon which it is based. It
should not be mislead with counterpart in use in genetics (where genotype means hereditary and
genetic constitution of an individual). It is strictly equivalent form in another language is permitted in
referring to the type of a genus.
3) **Holotype: The single specimen selected by the author of a species as its type, or the only
specimen known at the time of description; a true type.
4) **Paratypes are specimens used, along with the holotype, in the original designation of a new form;
they must be part of the same series (i.e., collected at the same immediate locality and at the same
time) as the holotype.
5) Isosyntype: A duplicate type of syntype, not cited in original description of the name.
6) Metatype: A specimen compared by the author of a species with the type and determined by him as
conspecific with it.
 7) Monotype: A holotype based on a single specimen; when holotype is correctly designated, it is
synonymous with it.
8) Morphotype: A selected specimen of the second or later form of a dimorphic or polymorphic
species: its use is permitted only by International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria but not by
Zoological Code.
9) Neoallotype: An allotype (opposite sex of the type) described after the publication of the original
description.
10) **Neotype: A specimen designated or selected subsequently to serve as the type of a name when all
the original type specimens are destroyed or missing or believed to be so.
11) Syntype:

Neotype Designation:
Article 75 of the Code regulates the designation of the neotypes when no holotype, lectotype, or
syntype exists either through loss or destruction. A neotype should be designated only in the revisionary
work or under exceptional circumstances when neotype designation is necessary to solve complex
zoological problem like confused or doubtful identities of closely similar species for one or more of which
no holotype, lectotype, or syntype exists. Otherwise, its designation is forbidden even if the original type is
damaged or lost. If a neotype is lost, presumably another neotype can be selected under the conditions. If,
after the designation of a neotype, original type-material is discovered, the case is to be referred to the
Commission.

12) Neoparatype: A paratype described after the publication of the original description. This resulted
when at the time of description of new species there was no specimen other than holotype.
13) Plesiotype: A specimen upon which a subsequent or additional description or figure is based; any
specimen identified with a described or named species by a person other than the describer.
14) Pseudotype: A type-species of the genus by erroneous designation.
15) Topotype: A specimen collected in the exact locality from where the original type was obtained. It is
very valuable if it is a homoeotype and when the original type has been lost.