Specific name

Specific name

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 phrase, 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. This is very often a vernacular name, or the name (specific or generic) of a similar organism.
* 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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  • Specific name — specific spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • specific name — the second component of the binomial name of a species. When a species is placed in a given genus, the combination of the generic name and the specific name forms a binomen. A specific name has no meaning in nomenclature when cite …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • specific name — noun : the binomial name of a taxonomic species consisting of the name of its genus followed by a specific epithet …   Useful english dictionary

  • specific name — noun The second word in the scientific name of a species, following the name of the genus …   Wiktionary

  • specific name — The second name in a binomen and in a trinomen …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • specific — spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Specific character — specific spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Specific disease — specific spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Specific duty — specific spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Specific gravity — specific spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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