scientific name
Formal species label
A scientific name is the formal Latin or Latinized name for a species, consisting of two parts: the genus (capitalized) followed by the species (lowercase), both italicized: Homo sapiens, Canis lupus.
This binomial system, developed by Linnaeus, provides a universal identifier across languages and avoids confusion from multiple common names.
Scientists and field guides use scientific names for precision: The scientific name for the common house cat is Felis catus.
Expression with two terms
- genusTaxonomic rank above species
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- epithetDescriptive tag for someone
- trinomialExpression with three terms
monomial · authority · parentheses · italicized · capitalization · abbreviation · combination · diagnosis
Father of modern taxonomy
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- systematicsScience of classifying organisms
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- cladisticsClassification by common descent
kingdom · phylum · family · order · rank · hierarchy · ICZN · validity
Substitute taxonomic specimen
- voucherRedeemable certificate for value
- herbariumPreserved plant specimen archive
- museum collectionInstitutional assemblage of artifacts
- reference materialTexts consulted for information
Science of flora
- zoologyStudy of fauna
- mycologyScientific study of fungi
- entomologyStudy of insects
- ornithologyScientific study of birds
ichthyology · herpetology · microbiology · paleontology · bacteriology · virology
binomial
Expression with two terms
trinomial · monomial · authority · parentheses · italicized · capitalization · abbreviation · combination · diagnosis · description
Linnaeus
Father of modern taxonomy
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- systematicsScience of classifying organisms
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
cladistics · kingdom · phylum · family · order · rank · hierarchy · ICZN · validity · priority
neotype
Substitute taxonomic specimen
- voucherRedeemable certificate for value
- herbariumPreserved plant specimen archive
- museum collectionInstitutional assemblage of artifacts
botany
Science of flora
- zoologyStudy of fauna
- mycologyScientific study of fungi
- entomologyStudy of insects
ornithology · ichthyology · herpetology · microbiology · paleontology · bacteriology · virology
- plant taxonomykingdom, phylum, class, genus, species
- Species Discoveryexpedition, field research, specimen, DNA analysis, endemic species
- Binomial termsbinomial coefficient
- taxonomygenus, species, taxon, kingdom, phylum
- chemical namescommon names, naming convention
scientific namecommon name
Ordinary everyday designation
folk name · nickname · street name · traditional name · pet name
scientific namefolk name
Unofficial traditional designation
traditional name · tribal name · indigenous name · trade name · brand name
name, science, scientist, scientific, nominate, scientists, nomenclature, scientifically, omniscience