Writing scientific names

The idea

In a scientific name the genus comes first and begins with a capital letter, the species follows in small letters, and the name is written in italics when printed or underlined when handwritten.

Two ways to write

Two students write the tiger's scientific name: Panthera tigris and panthera Tigris.

Which one do you think follows the rules?

• Panthera tigris
• panthera Tigris
• Both are the same

Written correctly or not?

Tap the bin where each belongs.

The three rules

A scientific name has two parts. The genus comes first and starts with a capital letter. The species follows in small letters. When printed the name is in italics, and when handwritten it is underlined.

In a scientific name the genus comes first and begins with a capital letter, the species follows in small letters, and the name is written in italics when printed or underlined when handwritten.

Notes

Write the genus first with a capital letter, then the species in small letters, in italics when printed or underlined when handwritten.

Check yourself

Which part of a scientific name comes first?

How should the species name begin?

How is a scientific name written when handwritten?

Which is the correct way to write the scientific name of mango?

• The species. The genus comes first, followed by the species.
• The common name. The scientific name has two parts, genus and species.
• The genus — correct. Yes!
• With a small letter — correct. Yes!
• With a capital letter. Only the genus name begins with a capital letter.
• With an underline. Underlining is for the whole name when handwritten, not for the first letter.
• In italics. Italics are used when the name is printed.
• Underlined — correct. Yes!
• In capital letters. The book does not ask for capital letters throughout.
• mangifera indica. The genus name begins with a capital letter.
• Mangifera Indica. The species name is written in small letters.
• Mangifera indica — correct. Yes!