Raffi at 04:03, 6 April 2007

2007-04-06T04:03:16Z

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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".

====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: ''[[lion|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: ''[[coelacanth|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]]".

[[Category:Zoological nomenclature]]

Specific name - Revision history

Raffi at 04:03, 6 April 2007