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Revision as of 10:40, 31 January 2006 by Dreg743 (talk | contribs) (link to a relevant ecology article)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)- This article is not about formal zoological nomenclature, but describes terms that are in use in some circles, although having no standing under the ICZN.
In describing variation in animals, especially insects, several terms and abbreviations have been used, additionally, following a binomen or trinomen. Many other 'typical specimens' may be described, but these should not be considered as being absolute, unconditional or categorical. These forms have no official status, though they may be useful in describing altitudinal or geographical clines.
- forma geographica - f. geogr. (if used, nowadays usually of a part of a cline)
- forma alta - f. alt. (altitudinal features are not necessarily inherited, but may entirely be due to environment, the same applies to temperature or humidity -generated forms)
- aberratio - ab. (may be used of a single or a small (singly observed) group of atypical individuals, for example of albinos, or of commonly observed form of a species, in this case forma (f.) is more conventional.)
- forma localis - f. loc. (as "forma geographica" but more restricted, only local, see also small population size.)
- forma aestivalis - f. aest. (spring form)
- forma autumnalis - f. autumn. (autumn form)