Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

tautonym

Noun

/tɔːˈtɒn.ɪm/

Definition

A tautonym is a scientific name in which the genus and species names are identical.

Examples

Gorilla gorilla is an example of a tautonym, as both the genus and species names are the same.
In botanical nomenclature, the tautonym Juniperus juniperus is used for a specific type of juniper.

Meaning

Tautonyms are often used in biological classification to uniquely identify a species within a specific genus, ensuring clarity in scientific communication.