Specific name

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In zoological nomenclature, a specific name or specific epithet is the second part (second name) in the name of a species (a binomen). The first part is the name of the genus.

Note that in botanical nomenclature, "epithet" always refers to the specific name, whereas in zoological nomenclature, without qualifiers ("generic"/"specific") it can refer to either part of the binomen.

Example: The scientific name for man is Homo sapiens, which is the species name, consisting of two names: Homo is the "generic name" (the name of the genus) and sapiens the "specific name".

[edit] Grammar

Grammatically, a binomen (and trinomen) must be treated as a Latin sentence, which gives some justification to the popular usage of the phrase "Latin name" for the more correct "scientific name". Grammatically (in Latin grammar), the specific name can be:

  • A noun in apposition with the genus: Panthera leo. The words do not necessarily agree in gender.
  • A noun in the genitive.
    • This is common in parasites: Xenos vesparum ("of the wasps").
    • Names of people and places are used in the genitive: Latimeria chalumnae (of "Chalumna").
  • An adjective, agreeing in case and gender with the genus: Felis silvestris ("the forest cat")

The same applies to a subspecific name. In zoological nomenclature, a subspecies will have a trinomen, consisting of three names: the third part is the "subspecific name".

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