Rob Byatt
Well-known member
Ok, it's time for my weekly rant :wink:
I know this was never meant to be a scientifically accurate site, so it doesn't matter if anyone follows these guidelines (if I don't then someone hit me), but I think it is good that everyone knows the correct way of doing things.
So here goes......briefly....
The scientific name given to an organism is often derived from characteristics of the type specimen. It is always italicized.
It is a binomial name, that is, is it made up of two parts. They are;
a generic name (genus) and
a specific epithet (species).
e.g. Tenodera aridofolia
The scientific name is always placed within brackets when it is written after the common name.
e.g. Chinese mantis (Tenodera aridofolia)
Once a generic name has been mentioned in a text, it may be abbreviated.
e.g. T. aridofolia.
There is sometimes a subspecific name given to an organism. This is then known as a subspecies ! They display minor differences to the original species. This often occurs when members of a species become geographically isolated from the main species. This does not make them a different species.
The subspecific name is always put after the specific name.
e.g. Chinese mantis (Tenodera aridofolia sinensis)
Ok, so that wasn't that brief, but I never was any good at being so !
I hope this helps. Any questions ? Please ask.
Rob.
I know this was never meant to be a scientifically accurate site, so it doesn't matter if anyone follows these guidelines (if I don't then someone hit me), but I think it is good that everyone knows the correct way of doing things.
So here goes......briefly....
The scientific name given to an organism is often derived from characteristics of the type specimen. It is always italicized.
It is a binomial name, that is, is it made up of two parts. They are;
a generic name (genus) and
a specific epithet (species).
e.g. Tenodera aridofolia
The scientific name is always placed within brackets when it is written after the common name.
e.g. Chinese mantis (Tenodera aridofolia)
Once a generic name has been mentioned in a text, it may be abbreviated.
e.g. T. aridofolia.
There is sometimes a subspecific name given to an organism. This is then known as a subspecies ! They display minor differences to the original species. This often occurs when members of a species become geographically isolated from the main species. This does not make them a different species.
The subspecific name is always put after the specific name.
e.g. Chinese mantis (Tenodera aridofolia sinensis)
Ok, so that wasn't that brief, but I never was any good at being so !
I hope this helps. Any questions ? Please ask.
Rob.
