Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Having but one type; consisting of a single representative; represented by a monotype, as a genus of one species, a family of one genus, etc.
- Being a monotype; alone representing a given group, as a species single in its genus. Also
monotypal and monotypical.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective biology, taxonomy Relating to or exhibiting
monotypy
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective consisting of only one type
Etymologies
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Examples
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Genera that contain only one species are termed monotypic category page for this topic but their lists are limited, since Wikipedia is not a comprehensive taxonomy resource.
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This wide-ranging species is unique enough to be monotypic.
Mystery bird: silver-breasted broadbill, Serilophus lunatus 2011
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A variety of interesting trees occurs in the hill woodlands of the Upper Marmelos and Middle Tapajós Rivers including the dwarf rubber tree, Hevea camporum, the elegant palm, Euterpe longibracteata, the enormous Huberodendron ingens, and rare monotypic Brachynema ramiflorum.
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More than 30 of the nearly 200 mammals found in the Ethiopian Highlands are found nowhere else, including a remarkable six endemic genera, four of which are monotypic: three rodents (Megadendromus, Muriculus, and Nilopegamys) and one primate, the gelada (Theropithecus gelada).
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Most of these endemic mammals are shrews and rodents, including two monotypic endemic genera: the Ruwenzori shrew (Ruwenzorisorex suncoides, VU), and Delanys swamp mouse (Delanymys brooksi).
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The hotspot is home to three endemic plant families (Aextoxicaceae, Gomortegaceae and Lactoridaceae), and several monotypic endemic plant genera (Pitavia, Legrandia, and Jubaea).
Biological diversity in the Chilean winter rainfall-valdivian forests 2009
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Over 50 relict monotypic genera have survived from the Mesozoic era, 20% of China's total, among them the dove tree Davidia involucrata, Katsura tree Cercidophyllum japonicum, Chinese money maple Dipteronia sinensis, dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides (CR), Chinese bretschneidera Bretschneidera sinensis (EN), gingko Gingko biloba (EN), Tetracentron sinensis and one-eyed grass Kingdonia uniflora. 50 genera are endemic to China (20% of its total) and 67 plant species are nationally protected.
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The Albertine Rift is home to about 19 percent of Africa's amphibian species, including more than 30 endemic species and three monotypic endemic genera: Parkers tree toad (Laurentophryne parkeri), the Itombwe golden frog (Chrysobatrachus cupreonitens), and African painted frog (Callixalus pictus, VU).
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This area also has a monotypic endemic genus, Nephrophyllum abyssinicum, which is found on heavily grazed pastures, open ground, and rocky areas on steep slopes between 1,650 and 2,700 meters.
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The beautiful, bright green African green broadbill (Pseudocalyptomena graueri, VU), the sole representative of a monotypic genus, is found in only three sites in the Rift.
hernesheir commented on the word monotypic
(adj): (Biol.) The sole member of its group, such as a single species that constitutes a genus, family or order.
(n): A unique print made by pressing paper against a painted or inked surface.
January 1, 2009