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118 Terms used in Bionomenclature
publication of the original description; a metatopotype. (2) (zool.,
unoff.) a specimen determined by the original author of a name after
comparison with the type subsequent to publication; see also
authentic specimen, homotype.
metonym: (1) (unoff.) a later name given to a specimen (other than the
type) of a taxon that already had a valid name, i.e. an unnecessary
name; a taxonomic synonym. (2) a mataeonym (q.v.).
metonymous homonyms: (unoff.) homonyms based on different
nomenclatural types which are considered to belong to a single
taxon.
microcard: a copy of a published work, much reduced in size, on opaque
photographic card, ad requiring a special reader.
microfiche: a copy of a published work or manuscript, much reduced in
size, with often many pages copied onto single photographic film
sheets and requiring a special reader; also used to copy historic
herbarium material and literature.
microfilm: a copy of a published work or a manuscript, usually much
reduced, onto a continuous strip of transparent photographic
material.
microform: a term including microfiche and microfilm.
microfossils: (palaeo., unoff.) fossil remains, whether entire organisms or
parts of organisms (e.g. spores), so small that they cannot be studied
without some form of a microscope.
microspecies, [msp.]: (1) (bot., unoff.) a unit of a species aggregate (q.v.),
with very little internal variation; microspecies are treated as species
for nomenclatural purposes: see also cryptic species, sibling species.
(2) (bot., unoff.) a small division of apomictic complexes which are
characterized by considerable constancy by virtue of their apomictic
mode of reproduction, e.g. Panicum maximum msp. robustum.
microsubspecies: (bot., unoff., obsol.) a small but distinct population
limited to a small geographical area; not normally given a scientific
name but sometimes recognized as a variety; sometimes indicated
by the term “var. (geogr.)”.