noun

• A single type specimen upon which the description and name of a new species is based.

  Compare with syntype

  ‘Additional character state information was also incorporated from descriptions of holotypes and additional fossil material.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The holotype of this species might be a juvenile as there are larger specimens in our collection.’
  • ‘Other skull elements are similar to those described in the holotype.’
  • ‘The holotype and largest fragment of the new species is 59 mm high.’
  • ‘To our knowledge, the holotype is the only other documented specimen in the species.’