Binomial nomenclature
One universal two-part name for each organism.
Four names for a tiger
A tiger is bagh in Hindi, puli in Tamil, tiger in English and tigre in French.
What problem might this cause when people from different regions discuss the animal?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Binomial nomenclature gives each organism a universal two-part Latin or Latinised name: the genus, grouping closely related species, followed by the species, a group of similar individuals able to interbreed and produce offspring.
Four names for a tiger
A tiger is bagh in Hindi, puli in Tamil, tiger in English and tigre in French.
What problem might this cause when people from different regions discuss the animal?
- Confusion about which animal is meant
- No problem at all
- The animal would change
A name for everyone
Open each tab.
Two words, one name
The genus name groups closely related species. The species name points to a group of similar individuals that can interbreed and produce offspring. Together they give a name that is the same for people everywhere.
Binomial nomenclature gives each organism a universal two-part Latin or Latinised name: the genus, grouping closely related species, followed by the species, a group of similar individuals able to interbreed and produce offspring.
Notes
Binomial nomenclature: a universal two-part Latin name, the genus followed by the species, such as Panthera tigris.
Check yourself
In Mangifera indica, which word is the genus?
Who introduced binomial nomenclature?
Panthera tigris and Panthera leo share the same ...
What does a species name indicate?
- indica. indica is the species name.
- Mangifera — correct. Yes!
- Mango. Mango is the common name, not part of the scientific name.
- Aristotle. Aristotle, around the 4th century BCE, grouped animals by habitat and appearance. Linnaeus introduced the binomial system in the 18th century.
- Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species, mentioned in the book as a book in a library.
- Carolus Linnaeus — correct. Yes!
- genus, Panthera — correct. Yes!
- species name. Their species names differ: tigris and leo.
- common name. One is the tiger and the other is the lion.
- A group of different genera. A genus groups closely related species, but a species name indicates similar individuals.
- A group of similar individuals able to interbreed and produce offspring — correct. Yes!
- The language in which the animal is called. Scientific names are in Latin or a Latinised form, not in the local language.