spp.
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Biology
| Stands for | Species (plural) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
spp. stands for Species (plural), a biology abbreviation.
Plural of sp., placed after a genus name to refer to several or all species in that genus, as in Salmonella spp. or Eucalyptus spp. It is common in food safety reports, medical microbiology and ecological surveys.
Example: The salad samples tested negative for Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes.
Usage notes
Never italicized, even after an italic genus. It should not be used for subspecies, which are abbreviated subsp. or ssp. The singular sp. refers to one unidentified species.
Related abbreviations
More biology abbreviations
- AA – Amino acid
- ADP – Adenosine diphosphate
- AMP – Adenosine monophosphate
- ATP – Adenosine triphosphate
- BMR – Basal metabolic rate
- BSA – Bovine serum albumin
- BSL – Biosafety level
- CAM – Crassulacean acid metabolism
- cAMP – Cyclic adenosine monophosphate
- Cas9 – CRISPR-associated protein 9
- CFU – Colony-forming unit
- CHO – Chinese hamster ovary (cells)