the.com/holotype
the one specimen that gets to say what a species officially looks like, forever.
means a holotype is the single physical specimen designated as the official reference point for defining a new species.
from from greek holos (whole) plus typos (impression, model) — coined in taxonomy to mark the one true template against which all other claimed members of a species get compared.
museum drawersmost holotypes sit pinned or jarred in collections, unseen
lost holotypessome were destroyed in wwii bombings, causing taxonomic headaches
not the prettiestit just has to be the first one properly described
replaceablea neotype can replace a holotype if it is lost