Paratype

In zoological nomenclature, a paratype is officially defined as "Each specimen of a type series other than the holotype.

The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) has not always required a type specimen, but any species or subspecies newly described after the end of 1999 must have a designated holotype or syntypes.

A related term is allotype, a term that indicates a specimen that exemplifies the opposite sex of the holotype,[1] and is almost without exception designated in the original description, and, accordingly, part of the type series, and thus a paratype; in such cases, it is functionally no different from any other paratype.

Apart from species exhibiting strong sexual dimorphism, relatively few authors take the trouble to designate such a specimen.

It is not uncommon for an allotype to be a member of an entirely different species from the holotype, because of an incorrect association by the original author.