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Exploring
California Insects
BugFinder
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Binomial
Nomenclature
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The same insect, or
other organism, may be known by a variety of names. Additionally, several
entirely different insects may be called the same name. How are we to know
exactly what we are talking about? It has become important that all organisms
become named under a standard system.
Binomial Nomenclature
Insect species, like other organisms, have a first and last name. The first
name is the genus
(general name) and the second name is the
species
(specific name).
Examples
There are some species names you may already be familiar with. They include
Tyrannasaurus rex, Homo sapien and
Muscus domesticus.
(Species names are underlined or italicized.)
Binomial nomenclature is a convention that scientists adhere
to, so that they can always know that they are talking about the same
organism. |
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