What's in a name?

What's in a name?

How do animals and plants get their names?

What do scientific names mean?

Many scientific names describe certain characteristics of the organism.

This is a southern flounder or Paralichythus squalimentus

Its name describes characteristics about itself.

Paralichthyus squalimentus

• para = beside

• ichthys = eyes

• squali = scale

• lentus = bean shaped

• The southern flounder is a scaly, bean-shaped fish with the eyes on the side of the head.

Multiple Choice

This is the black - footed ferret. The scientific name is Mustela nigripes. The species name has 2 parts: nigri which means black or blue. What does pes mean?

• foot

• eyes

• ears

• nose

Oceanic Whitetip shark

Carcharhinus longimanus

Carcharhinus longimanus

• carchar = ridged

• hinus =rear body

• longi =long

• manu= hand

• The Oceanic Whitetip shark has a ridge on the back portion of its body. The front fins are like long hands.

Multiple Choice

This is the toothed whale. The scientific name is Parvorder odontoceti. What characteristic did scientists use to classify the species?

• color

• teeth

• number of eyes

• ability to swin

Blue Marlin

Makaira nigricans

Makaira nigricans

• mak = large, or long

• nigri = black or blue

• can = long rod

• A blue marlin is a large blue fish with a sharp, long rod at the front.

Multiple Choice

This is the Western Diamondback rattlesnake. The scientific name is Crotalus atrox. The species name is atrox which shares the same prefix as the word "atrocious." What does atrox mean?

• horrifying

• loud

• rattle

• deadly

Multiple Choice

This is the red panda. The scientific name is Ailurus fulgens. The genus is related to the Greek word meaning domestic cat. The species comes from Latin meaning fire and lightning. What characteristic of the red panda would the species name refer to?

• size

• genus

• shape

• color