← Back to catalogue
Research draft

type

vr.tr.type · SOC.PER

Let an agent explain type specimens and the kinds of types, relay the rules of the nomenclature codes, help locate type material through collection databases, and separate the nomenclatural sense of type from other senses of the word.

Thing Registry Society, people and institutions

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent explain type specimens and the kinds of types, relay the rules of the nomenclature codes, help locate type material through collection databases, and separate the nomenclatural sense of type from other senses of the word.

In biological nomenclature, the specimen or set of specimens to which a scientific name is permanently attached, such as a holotype, lectotype or neotype, held in a museum or herbarium so that the application of the name can always be checked; type specimens are designated under the international codes of nomenclature and are among the most important objects in natural history collections.

What it is for: Fixing the application of scientific names.

It can be explain the kinds of type and their rules; relay code provisions on designation; help locate type specimens in collections; separate this sense from other senses of type.

Distinguishing features

Name-bearing function

Designated under a code

Held in a public collection

Kinds by how they were designated

What it looks like

A preserved specimen with a type label, held in a museum or herbarium.

How it is recognised

Specimen designated as the name-bearer

Labelled holotype, lectotype, neotype or similar

Type in the sense of category, printing type or typography is a different sense

Related models

is a kind of - a preserved organism

biological specimen

bears - the name it fixes

scientific name

is governed by - and the botanical code

International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

is held in - or herbarium

natural history museum

In practice

Families and kinds

holotype

paratype and syntype

lectotype and neotype

epitype in botany

hypotype and figured specimens as informal categories

type specimens of fossils and cultures

Identifiers

catalogue number collection specific

type status holotype, lectotype and others as recorded in databases

Standards and regulation

International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants

Collection management and loan standards

Heritage protection of collections

Failure modes and hazards

Loss or destruction of type specimens

Ambiguous or missing designations

Confusion between kinds of types

Confusing the nomenclatural sense with other senses

Also called

type specimennomenclatural typespecimen of Hyposalenia acanthoideshypotypelectotypefiguredpathotype strainHomeotypenoun typeallotypeparalectotypehapantotyperadar typeneotypeepitypetype strainconserved typename-bearing typesyntypeisotypeparatypeisolectotypeisoneotypeisoepitypehistoric syntypeisosyntypeisoparatypeergatotype

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Also registered as vr.tr.type-artifact

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Concept What a type is.

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

  1. What is a type specimen, and what does it do for a scientific name? definition
  2. Is the question about the nomenclatural sense of type or another sense? boundary

Kinds

Kinds of type.

Kinds

Kinds.

  1. What kinds of type exist, and how does each arise? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific kind? action
Rules Codes and designation.

Rules.

Codes

The codes.

Codes

Codes.

  1. What do the zoological and botanical codes require for designating types? provenance
  2. Which code applies to the organism? boundary

Designation

Designation practice.

Designation

Designation.

  1. How are lectotypes and neotypes designated, and when? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance
Find Locating types.

Practice.

Collections

Collections.

Collections

Collections.

  1. Where are type specimens held, and how are they found in databases? action
  2. Which entry fits a specific museum? action

Access

Access and loans.

Access

Access.

  1. How can researchers examine or borrow type material? provenance
  2. Which entry fits collection management? action
Care Conservation and history.

Care.

Conservation

Conservation.

Conservation

Conservation.

  1. How are type specimens conserved and protected? provenance
  2. Which entry fits specimen conservation? action

History

History of the concept.

History

History.

  1. How did the type concept develop in taxonomy? provenance
  2. Which entry fits taxonomy? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should each kind of type be a separate entry?
  • How should collection databases be linked?
  • The registry entry has merged aliases naming a specific specimen; should it be split off?