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What are the rules for naming a new species?

Updated: 8/10/2023
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Dianergr

Lvl 1
15y ago

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Naming species is known in the scientific world as binomial nomenclature. Each name must be made up of two words: one is the modern Latin or scientific term for the genus and the second is the identifying word for the particular species. In the species Homo sapiens, Homo is the genus and sapiens is the specific species within that genus.

Although the taxonomist or scientist can give a new species nearly any name he likes, he does have to follow certain rules when composing the name. For instance, the name must follow Latin grammar rules. The descriptor name must be in the possessive form.

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Wiki User

15y ago
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10y ago

1. The first name represents the genus and must start with a capital letter

  • e.g. Staphylococcus aureus

2. The second name represents the species and must start with a lowercase letter

  • e.g. Staphylococcus aureus

3. When handwritten the binomial name must be underlined. When typed, it must be typed in italics

  • e.g. Staphylococcus aureus (typed)

4. When talking about a specific organism, only if the genus name has already been mentioned in full before, it may be written with just the first letter and a fullstop/period followed by the species in full

  • e.g. S. aureus

5. When talking about a particular genus with many species in it, it may be denoted simply as the genus name followed by "spp."

  • e.g. Staphylococcus spp.
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15y ago

When a new organism is found it would first need to be classified in a genus, and all categories above that, from there it would be given its own unique species name.

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