The system of scientific naming provides a universally understood language for identifying the millions of species on Earth. Before this standardized approach, organisms were known by local or common names that varied wildly by region and language, leading to significant confusion among naturalists. The Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus formalized this system in the 1750s, creating a consistent method for taxonomy, the science of classification.
This method is called binomial nomenclature, or the two-term naming system, and it assigns every species a two-part Latinized name. This system ensures that every organism has a unique, stable identifier recognized globally. The first part of the name indicates the genus, and the second part is the specific epithet, which together form the complete scientific name.
The Required Structure and Formatting Rules
The scientific name is composed of two words, which must always be treated as Latin, even if they are derived from other languages or names. The first word, representing the genus, is always capitalized, while the second word, the specific epithet, is always written in lowercase. The combination of these two words, for example, Homo sapiens, is the only way to correctly refer to a species.
A formatting rule requires the entire binomial name to be set apart from the surrounding text. When typed, the scientific name must be written in italics, such as Canis lupus for the gray wolf. If the name is being written by hand, the same distinction is achieved by underlining both the genus and the specific epithet separately. In subsequent mentions, the genus name can be abbreviated to its capitalized first letter, provided there is no ambiguity, turning Panthera tigris into P. tigris.
The Official Process for Establishing a New Name
Creating a new scientific name is linked to a rigorous, multi-step taxonomic process, not simply an exercise in word choice. The first step involves the comprehensive analysis and description of the organism, defining the features—morphological, genetic, or behavioral—that distinguish it from all known relatives. This description must then be anchored by the designation of a single physical specimen, known as the holotype.
The holotype acts as the permanent reference point for the species and must be preserved in a major institution, such as a natural history museum or herbarium, where researchers can access it. This specimen is the objective standard against which other individuals are compared to confirm their identity. The final step of validation is the formal publication of the species description and its proposed name in a peer-reviewed scientific journal or monograph with wide circulation.
A name is considered validly published and officially established only after it appears in a journal and meets the requirements of the relevant international code. This process ensures the name is officially recognized by the scientific community and enters the global taxonomic record. Until this formal publication occurs, the proposed name and the species it represents do not officially exist in the scientific literature.
International Rules That Govern Scientific Names
The stability and uniqueness of scientific names are upheld by international regulatory bodies, each responsible for a distinct kingdom of life. For animals, the naming process is governed by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). The naming of algae, fungi, and plants is regulated separately by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN).
These codes operate on two fundamental principles to maintain order in nomenclature. The first is the principle of independence, which allows an animal and a plant to share the exact same generic name, such as the genus Abronia. The second principle is priority, which dictates that the first name validly published for a species is the one that must be used, ensuring names are stable over time. The rules aim to provide maximum universality, ensuring that no two organisms within the same kingdom share the exact same binomial name.
Choosing the Name: Etymology and Conventions
While the structure and process are strictly regulated, the choice of the specific epithet often allows for considerable creativity. Taxonomists frequently choose names that reference the geographic location where the organism was found, a practice known as toponymy. Names can also be descriptive, referring to a physical characteristic, such as color, size, or habitat, often using Latin or Greek roots to convey meaning; for example, maximus denotes large size.
Another common convention is to name a species in honor of a person, creating an eponym or patronym. This tradition can honor the discoverer, a renowned scientist, or a public figure, such as a diving beetle named Agabus colberti. The specific epithet derived from a person’s name receives a Latinized ending that reflects the gender of the honoree, such as the ending -i for a man or -ae for a woman.