Holotype

The holotype is the single physical specimen — a skin, skeleton, or occasionally just feathers — deposited in a natural history museum and referenced in the original species description (protologue). Once designated, the holotype is the permanent nomenclatural anchor; if the holotype is later found to be a different species than most of the described material, the name follows the holotype. Correct holotype designation is therefore critical to nomenclatural stability in ornithology.