1. In taxonomy, a specimen used as a reference in the original description of a species, but not designated as the holotype.
Usage: technical; biology; taxonomy

Examples

• The museum houses several cotypes from the original species description.
• Taxonomists examined the cotypes to verify the species classification.
• When the holotype was lost, researchers relied on the cotypes for comparison.
• The cotype specimens provided additional morphological data for the genus.
• Cotypes are important reference materials in systematic biology.