Canon:Racial bonus

Racial bonus is given to a monster or a character just because it belongs to a certain race. Hence, a creature loses its racial bonus only when its race changes (it is reincarnated or polymorphed).

Usually a racial bonus is attributed to:
 * a skill check, or
 * one saving throw type, or
 * attack rolls.

Never used in the rulebooks, but sometimes on forums, message boards and in everyday speach, are:
 * racial ability bonus (i.e., racial ability modifier)
 * racial bonus feat