Table of Contents
Introduction to Binomial Nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature is a system of naming species of living things using two Latin words. The first word is the genus, and the second word is the species. The genus is always capitalized, and the species is always lowercase. For example, the common name for the house cat is Felis catus. The binomial name for the house cat is Felis domestica.
Important things that you need to keep in mind regarding the Scientific Names of Animals and Plants
The scientific name of an animal or plant is a two-part name composed of the genus and species. The genus is a group of animals or plants that share common characteristics and are classified together. The species is a specific group of animals or plants within the genus that share common characteristics.
When looking up the scientific name of an animal or plant, it is important to know the correct spelling and order of the name. The genus is always written first, followed by the species. For example, the scientific name for the common house cat is Felis catus. The scientific name for the red oak tree is Quercus rubra.
The scientific name of an animal or plant is also italicized.
Scientific Names of Animals
The scientific name of an animal is its binomial name. This name is made up of two parts: the genus and the species. The genus is the first part of the name and is always capitalized. The species is the second part of the name and is always lowercase. For example, the scientific name for a lion is Panthera leo.
Scientific Names of Extinct Organisms
The scientific name of an extinct organism is the binomial name that is assigned to it in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. The first part of the name is the genus to which the organism belongs, and the second part is the species name. For example, the scientific name for the dodo bird is Raphus cucullatus.
Uses of Scientific Names
Scientific names are used to identify different species of plants and animals. They are also used to classify different species into different groups. For example, the scientific name for a lion is Panthera leo. This name tells us that the lion is a member of the Panthera genus and the leo species.
