Binomial Nomenclature

Binomial nomenclature (Latin bi, two; nomen, name) gives every organism a scientific name made of exactly two parts: a generic name (the genus) and a specific epithet (the species). This system was popularised by Carolus Linnaeus and remains in near-universal use by biologists worldwide today.

Familiar Indian examples show the format clearly: the National Bird of India, the Indian Peafowl, is Pavo cristatus; the National Animal, the tiger, is Panthera tigris; and Tamil Nadu's State Bird, the common Emerald Dove, is Chalcophaps indica. In each name, the first word (the genus) is always capitalised and the second word (the species epithet) is always lowercase, and both words are set in italics when printed or underlined separately when handwritten. This simple, consistent two-part structure is what allows a sc …