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In [[ICZN|zoology]], a '''binomen''', or binominal name, is the name of a species. The term was introduced in 1953.

A binomen is a name consisting of two names: [[generic name]] and [[specific name]]. Both names are typeset in italics, but only the generic name is capitalised.  

:''Canis lupus'' the [[wolf]]. 

If the generic name has already been mentioned in the same paragraph, it is often abbreviated to the initial letter in subsequent uses (''C. lupus'').

In a [[alpha taxonomy|taxonomic]] publication, a name is incomplete without an author citation and publication details. This indicates who published the name; in what publication; with the date of the publication.

It is incorrect to refer to the genus and species as part of a "binomial" nomenclature.  Binomial refers to a probability distribution based on a process known as a Bernoulli trial.  Instead, the correct term is binominal nomenclature, which consists of a binomen, the genus and species.

====See also====
* [[Nomenclature Codes]] 
* [[binominal nomenclature]]
* in plants, a species gets a two part name, a [[binary name]].

[[Category:zoological nomenclature]]