(All definitions taken from the "International Code of Zoological Nomenclature")

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Type

The standard of reference for determining the precise application of a zoological name; a term used alone, or forming part of a compound term, to denote a particular kind of specimen or taxon; nomenclatural type; nomenifer; onomatophore. Each taxon has, actually or potentially, a type. The type of a nominal species is a specimen (type specimen), the type of a nominal genus is the nominal species (type species), and the type of a nominal family is the nominal genus (type genus).

PRIMARY TYPES:

Holotype

A single specimen designated or indicated the type specimen by the original author at the time of publication of the original description. Or, the single specimen selected by the original describer of a species to be the standard-bearer for the new name.

Syntype

One of the specimens on which a species description is based if no holotype was designated. In other words, a syntype is one of two or more specimens, together forming the basis for a species if no holotype was selected. In cases where the syntypes are unmarked and cannot be distinguished from the balance of the original series, all of the original specimens of a new species should be regarded as syntypes.

Lectotype

One of several syntypes, designated by any author after the original publication of a species name as the type specimen for the taxonomic name. Designated only where there was no original holotype. Also defined as a syntype designated as the single name-bearing type specimen subsequent to the establishment of a nominal species or subspecies.

Paratype

Every specimen in a type series other than the holotype which were before the author at the time of preparation of the original description and were so designated and indicated there.

Cotype

A term formerly used for either syntype or paratype. Currently an obsolete designation only found on older specimens.

Paralectotype

Each specimen of a former syntype series remaining after the designation of a lectotype.

SECONDARY TYPES:

Topotype

A specimen collected at the exact locality or within a few miles of the place where the original type of a species was collected.