Kleptotype
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In taxonomy, a kleptotype is an unofficial term referring to a stolen, unrightfully displaced type specimen or part of a type specimen.[1][2][3][4]
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The term is composed of klepto-, from the Ancient Greek κλέπτω (kléptō) meaning "to steal",[5][6] and -type referring to type specimens. It translates to "stolen type".[citation needed]
History
During the Second World War biological collections, like the herbarium in Berlin have been destroyed. This led to the loss of type specimens.[7][8] In some cases only kleptotypes have survived the destruction, as the type material had been removed from their original collections.[8] For instance, the type of Taxus celebica was thought to be destroyed during the Second World War, but a kleptotype has survived the war in Stockholm.[9]
Kleptotypes have been taken by researchers, who subsequently added their unauthorised type duplicates to their own collections.[10]