Binomial Nomenclature:
It is the system of giving a scientific name to an plant or an animal, an outstanding system proposed by Corollus Linnaeus. According to this system, any given animal or plant is given a scientific name consisting of two names or two words. The first name refers to name of the genus while the second word refers to the name of the species. Both the genus and the species are generally given Latin names. The name of the genus is usually a noun and that of the species is an adjective. It is not unusual in Latin that an adjective follows the noun.
Binomial nomenclature avoids the confusion of using common names. example the scientific name of tiger is Felis tigris and that of lion is Felis leo.
There are certain guidelines laid down with reference to the use of binomial nomenclature which are the result of deliberations held from time to time. An international committee has been established to frame the rules and regulations regarding binomial nomenclature for plants and animals. It is known as the International Council for Binomial Nomenclature(ICBN).
Following are certain guidelines for scientific naming of plants and animals.
- Every scientific name should have words either in Latin or Latinized.
- The first word refers to name of the genus and the second word to the name of the species.
- When written in English, name of the genus should start with a capital letter and name of the species with a small letter.
- Both the names should be printed in italics or else should be underlined separately.
- Name of the scientists who first identified and described the species should be abbreviated and written after the species name, preferably in brackets.