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Exercises · 1.5

Q.Given below is the scientific name of Mango. Identify the correctly written name.
Mangifera Indica
Mangifera indica

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The correct form is Mangifera indica — the genus takes a capital first letter while the specific epithet takes a small one, which is exactly what distinguishes it from the wrongly capitalised "Mangifera Indica".

Every scientific name is written under the binomial system of nomenclature, devised by Carolus Linnaeus and followed by biologists everywhere. In this system a name always has two parts: the first word is the generic name, or genus, and the second is the specific epithet, which names the species. For the mango these are Mangifera (the genus) and indica (the specific epithet).

The universally accepted rules for writing such names settle which of the two given forms is correct:

  • Biological names are generally Latin and written in italics; in handwriting each word is underlined separately.
  • The genus name begins with a capital letter.
  • The specific epithet begins with a small letter.

Applying these rules to the two options:

  • Mangifera Indica — incorrect. The genus is capitalised correctly, but the specific epithet "Indica" has been given a capital letter, which the rules do not allow. …

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