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Such a name is called a binomial name (often shortened to just "binomial"), a binomen, binominal name, or a scientific name; more informally, it is also called a Latin name. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), the system is also called binominal nomenclature , [ 1 ] with an "n" before the "al" in "binominal", which is ...
No other rank can have a name composed of two names. Examples: Species Giraffa camelopardalis. Subspecies have a name composed of three names, a "trinomen": generic name, specific name, subspecific name: Subspecies Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi. Taxa at a rank above species have a name composed of one name, a "uninominal name".
An interpolated name is italicized and placed in non-italic parentheses (round brackets); some examples are after a genus name to indicate a subgenus, after a genus group to denote an aggregate of species, after a species name to mean an aggregate of subspecies, after a genus and the word "section" or "sect." to provide a botanical genus ...
Standardizing the scientific names of biological organisms allows researchers to discuss findings (including the discovery of new species). As the study of biology became increasingly specialized, specific codes were adopted for different types of organism.
Because scientific names at the level of genus or below are always italicised, per WP:Manual of Style/Text formatting § Italic face, when the article title is a genus or lower-ranked taxonomic name (e.g. species or subspecies), the page title should also be italicised. There are three ways to accomplish this:
The binomial name often reflects limited knowledge or hearsay about a species at the time it was named. For instance Pan troglodytes, the chimpanzee, and Troglodytes troglodytes, the wren, are not necessarily cave-dwellers. Sometimes a genus name or specific descriptor is simply the Latin or Greek name for the animal (e.g. Canis is Latin for ...
Certain scientific names: Genes (but not proteins encoded by genes). Genera (and abbreviation thereof) and all lower taxa (including species and subspecies), but not higher taxa (e.g. family, order, etc.). The entire scientific name should be italicized, except where an interpolation is included in or appended to the name.
Use italics for the scientific names of plants, animals, and all other organisms except viruses at the genus level and below (italicize Panthera leo and Retroviridae, but not Felidae). The hybrid sign is not italicized (Rosa × damascena), nor is the "connecting term" required in three-part botanical names (Rosa gallica subsp. officinalis).