Specific Name (zoology)
The specific name in zoological nomenclature (also: specific epithet or species epithet) is the second part (the second name) within the name of a species (a binomen). The first part of the name of a species is the name of the genus or the generic name.
The rules and regulations governing the giving of a new species name are explained in the article species description.
- Example: The scientific name for humans is Homo sapiens, which is the species name, consisting of two names: Homo is the "generic name" (the name of the genus) and sapiens is the "specific name".
Read more about Specific Name (zoology): The Grammar of Species Names, Differences From Botany
Famous quotes containing the word specific:
“No more distressing moment can ever face a British government than that which requires it to come to a hard, fast and specific decision.”
—Barbara Tuchman (1912–1989)