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The Story of a Typical Specimen: How One Specimen Changed the History of Species Naming?
In biology, a typical specimen is a specific specimen, or in some cases a group of specimens, that is formally associated with a scientific name. It is a paradigm used to locate the defining characteristics of that particular taxon. This concept has been valued by scholars since ancient times because it not only affects how we understand and classify organisms, but also affects the historical process of species naming.
The scientific name of each taxon is almost always based on a specific specimen, as precisely defined by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) and the International Code of Algal, Fungal and Plant Nomenclature (ICN).
These specimens are often kept in research collections in museums or herbaria, providing a reference for biologists. However, in some cases specimens are named based on pictures or illustrations. Biologists often need to rely on these "type specimens" when describing the origins of new species.
The history and importance of specimens
Since ancient times, specimens have avoided naming confusion. Each scientific name is paired with a specimen, which not only allows the name to find its basis, but also allows scholars in the scientific community to discuss and further research on the same basis. Take the specimens at the Natural History Museum in London as an example. One of the birds, the spotted eagle (Circus assimilis), is an important typical specimen in species naming.
The influence of this specimen on species naming is reflected in many aspects, especially in the study of hawks.
As biology evolves, the role of specimens continues to evolve. Many early taxonomists did not necessarily choose the most "representative" specimen, but may have chosen the species that was most obvious in their study as the basis for their naming.
The challenge of specimen naming
There are some complications regarding the use of the word "type" in the nomenclature of species. In botany, "type" is an important element attached to a name, as opposed to "named type", while in zoology it is more strictly defined. This difference creates a challenge for many biological researchers in finding suitable specimens.
In some cases, scientists may select some extreme or deformed individuals as specimens, which often complicates species classification.
Even if there are no existing typical specimens of a species, it can still be named based on literature or even genetic sequences. This is particularly important for some specimens that have been lost over time. Although current nomenclature stipulates that there must be one specimen as the type, in certain circumstances so-called alternative specimens (neotypes) may emerge to resolve future disputes.
New specimen concept
With the development of science and technology, some specimen selections are no longer limited to traditional physical specimens. For example, some species have been described in recent years based on live specimens that have just been released into wild populations or based on DNA samples. This approach has given the academic community new thinking on how to understand the boundaries of specimens.
Even if doubt arises in the future, the lack of an actual specimen will not invalidate the name, but a new type specimen may need to be formulated on a case-by-case basis where this is scientifically necessary.
This shows that the role of the specimens themselves is not limited to their physical existence in the past, but that their changes reflect the evolution of science itself and the deepening of our understanding of biodiversity.
Looking to the future
As we further understand the significance of type specimens, we cannot ignore its profound impact on biological and ecological research. Typical specimens carry not only a nominal meaning, but also a meeting point of biological diversity. This makes us wonder, in future research, can these existing specimens once again challenge our understanding of the biological world?
