Principles of Nomenclature in Biology

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Questions and Answers

What formatting is used for scientific names in written documents?

Bold only

Capitalized and underlined

Italicized or underlined only

Italicized, underlined, or bolded (correct)

How should subsequent uses of a genus name be formatted?

Written in full each time

Abbreviated using an additional letter

Abbreviated with the first initial and a period (correct)

Completely omitted after first use

Which of the following is true regarding the use of the specific epithet in scientific names?

It can be capitalized if it's a person's name

It should only be capitalized if it's after a period

The first letter is always capitalized

It is never capitalized regardless of context (correct)

In the case of two species from different genera having the same genus abbreviation, what is the correct approach?

Use the full genus name for one and the abbreviation for the other Signup and view all the answers

What must be done when using a common name in conjunction with a scientific name?

It should first be defined by its scientific name Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the scientific name represents the genus?

Generic name Signup and view all the answers

What should be done to scientific names when they are written by hand?

Underline them Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scientific names is correctly formatted?

Oryza sativa L. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about species names is true?

The specific epithet is the second part of the scientific name. Signup and view all the answers

What language is primarily used for scientific names?

Latin Signup and view all the answers

In the example 'Mangifera indica Linn.', what does 'Linn.' refer to?

The person who described the species Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pairs are correctly related in terms of their scientific names?

Oryza sativa and Cannabis sativa Signup and view all the answers

What principle is illustrated when an organism has the same genus name as its common name?

Genus and common names are interchangeable Signup and view all the answers

What is the rank of Helianthus in the taxonomic hierarchy?

Genus Signup and view all the answers

Which of these fits the definition of a ternary name?

Toxicodendron radicans subsp.diversilobum Signup and view all the answers

What is the authority in a scientific name?

The person who first validly published the name Signup and view all the answers

What is the subfamily classification for the family Zygophyllaceae?

Zygophylloideae Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a variety name?

Linnaea borealis var.longiflora Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an illegitimate name change reason?

The name is contrary to the rules Signup and view all the answers

What rank is Conostylidoideae classified as?

Subfamily Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following orders does Asteraceae belong to?

Asterales Signup and view all the answers

What is a basionym in the context of taxonomic nomenclature?

A previous legitimate name from which a new name is derived Signup and view all the answers

From what date must new combinations or generic names be clearly documented to be considered validly published?

1 January 2007 Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes a tautonym in plant nomenclature?

A binomial name with identical genus and specific epithet Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the validity of tautonyms in plant nomenclature?

Tautonyms are NOT valid in plant nomenclature. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'autonym' refer to in trinomial nomenclature?

A trinomial name where species and subspecies names are identical Signup and view all the answers

How is a basionym referenced when publishing a new combination?

Directly indicating the basionym and providing a full reference Signup and view all the answers

In the case of naming, what is a nomen novum?

A new name based on a previously published name Signup and view all the answers

What is required when an autonym is created under the requirements of Art. 11.6?

Its basionym must be cited clearly and directly. Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific name for the tomato?

Lycopersicon lycopersicum Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following criteria is NOT required for valid publication of a scientific name?

The name must have a standard abbreviation. Signup and view all the answers

Which family name is synonymous with Arecaceae?

Palmae Signup and view all the answers

What defines a synonym in botanical nomenclature?

A name that applies to a taxon but is not the accepted name. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a requirement for a name to be considered effectively published?

It must be published in a journal accessible to botanists. Signup and view all the answers

What should accompany a scientific name to meet the valid publication criteria?

A Latin or English description or diagnosis. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following rank indicators would be acceptable for a new species publication?

sp.nov. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of nomenclatural type in scientific naming?

It must be indicated for genus and below. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Scientific Nomenclature Overview

Binomial nomenclature, developed by Carl Linnaeus in the 1750s, is a two-part naming system for classifying living organisms.
Scientific names consist of a generic name (genus) and a specific epithet (species), e.g., Oryza sativa.

Naming Conventions

The genus name is distinct across kingdoms; species names can be repeated. Example: Mangifera indica (mango) and Tamarindus indicus (tamarind).
Common and genus names can be the same, such as Eucalyptus and Monstera.

Rules for Scientific Names

Always italicized in printed forms or underlined when handwritten.
The genus name starts with a capital letter, while the specific epithet is in lowercase, regardless of its origin.
In the first mention in a document, the genus name is fully written; subsequent uses can be abbreviated.
A species cannot be mentioned without a genus; common names should be defined by their scientific names (e.g., “Oryza sativa (rice)”).

Authority and Authorship

The name of the author who first published a name is included after the species without punctuation. Example: Oryza sativa L.
A synonym is a previously used name that is not the accepted scientific name anymore. Example: Lycopersicon esculentum is synonymous with Solanum lycopersicum (tomato).

Classification Hierarchy

Major ranks include: Order -ales (e.g., Asterales), Family -aceae (e.g., Asteraceae), Genus (various), and Species (various).
Rank examples include Zygophyllaceae (family), Tribonanthes (genus), Linnaea borealis var. longiflora (variety).

Ternary Names and Autonyms

Ternary names refer to subspecies or variety names, like Toxicodendron radicans subsp. diversilobum.
Tautonyms, where genus and species names are identical, are considered invalid in plant nomenclature (e.g., Mangifera mangifera).

Name Change Reasons

Name changes often occur due to rule violations or revised taxonomic definitions.

Valid Publication Criteria

A name must be effectively published in accessible journals and follow proper Latinization with correct rank endings.
A description or diagnosis in Latin or English is required for validity.
The nomenclatural type must be indicated for genus-level classifications and below.

Abbreviation Usage

The abbreviation "in" indicates a name’s publication source, such as Arabis sparsiflora Nutt. in T. & G. can be abbreviated to Arabis sparsiflora Nutt.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the principles of biological nomenclature, including the rules for naming species and the use of Latin and Greek languages. This quiz covers key concepts such as the structure of scientific names and the guidelines for genus and species designation. Perfect for biology students and enthusiasts!