In biological taxonomy, a species nova (plural: species novae; abbreviation: sp. nov. plural abbreviation: spp. nov.) is a new species.[2] The phrase is Latin,[2] and is used after a binomial name that is being published for the first time.[3] The equivalent for a new genus name is genus novum, and familia nova for a biological family.
An example is the species of miniature frog, Paedophryne amauensis, originally described as Paedophryne amauensis sp. nov. in PLOS ONE in 2012.[1]
The term should not be confused with combinatio nova, used when a previously named taxon is moved to a different genus or species, or its rank is changed.
- ^ a b Rittmeyer, Eric N.; Allison, Allen; Gründler, Michael C.; Thompson, Derrick K.; Austin, Christopher C. (2012). "Ecological guild evolution and the discovery of the world's smallest vertebrate". PLoS ONE. 7 (1). Public Library of Science: e29797. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...729797R. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029797. PMC 3256195. PMID 22253785.
- ^ a b "What Latin abbreviations mean". Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ "Medical Definition of sp nov". Merriam Webster. Retrieved 31 October 2016.