Rules of Nomenclature and Author Citation
Scientific names are the shared language of biology. A name such as Mangifera indica Linn. is not a random label — it is a compact, rule-governed statement carrying the genus, the specific epithet, and the abbreviated author citation.
This quiz tests the universal rules of binomial nomenclature as presented in The Living World:
- Biological names are generally in Latin and written in italics.
- Names are Latinised or derived from Latin irrespective of their origin.
- The first word represents the genus; the second denotes the specific epithet.
- Handwritten names are separately underlined; printed names are italicised.
- The genus begins with a capital letter; the specific epithet begins with a small letter.
- The author’s name follows the specific epithet in abbreviated form.
Work carefully through each item — the rules are few, but each one matters in real scientific writing.
Q1. Biological names are generally written in which language and style?
Biological names are generally Latin or Latinised and are italicised when printed.
Q2. Why are scientific names Latinised even when derived from words of other languages?
Scientific names follow international nomenclature conventions and are Latin or Latinised irrespective of the language from which they originate.
Q3. Which statement correctly describes the two components of a binomial name?
A binomial consists of a generic name followed by a specific epithet.
Q4. What is the correct convention for a handwritten scientific name?
When handwritten, the genus and specific epithet must each be underlined separately.
Q5. Which of the following correctly follows the capitalisation rule for scientific names?
The generic name begins with a capital letter, whereas the specific epithet begins with a lowercase letter.
Q6. Which part of the scientific name Mangifera indica identifies its genus?
Mangifera is the generic name, while indica is the specific epithet.
Q7. What is the primary purpose of using binomial nomenclature instead of local or common names?
Binomial nomenclature provides an internationally standardised naming system and helps avoid confusion arising from different common names.
Q8. Who is primarily credited with establishing the system of binomial nomenclature used in modern biology?
Carolus Linnaeus is credited with establishing and popularising the binomial system of biological nomenclature.
Q9. In Mangifera indica Linn., what does the abbreviation Linn. signify?
Linn. is an author citation referring to Linnaeus, to whom the scientific description and naming are attributed in the NCERT example.
Q10. Where is the author citation normally placed in a biological name?
The author citation is normally written after the specific epithet, at the end of the scientific name.
Q11. Which statement about the formatting of an author citation is correct?
The scientific binomial is italicised when printed, but its author citation is written in upright or non-italic type.
Q12. Which statement correctly distinguishes the specific epithet from the complete species name?
In Mangifera indica, indica is the specific epithet. The complete species name is Mangifera indica.
Q13. Two species are named Panthera leo and Panthera tigris. What can be inferred from these names?
Both names begin with Panthera, indicating the same genus. Their different specific epithets identify different species.
Q14. A student writes the scientific name of a species as Canis Lupus. Which correction is required?
The specific epithet must begin with a lowercase letter. The correct capitalisation is Canis lupus.
Q15. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)?
The ICZN establishes internationally accepted rules for the scientific nomenclature of animals.
Q16. Which code currently governs the scientific naming of algae, fungi and plants?
The ICN governs the nomenclature of algae, fungi and plants. It was formerly known as the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature or ICBN.
Q17. A biologist identifies an organism named Homo sapiens. Which interpretation is correct?
In Homo sapiens, Homo denotes the genus and sapiens is the specific epithet. Together they constitute the binomial species name.
Q18. Which of the following is NOT a standard requirement when writing a scientific binomial?
Only the genus begins with a capital letter. The specific epithet begins with a lowercase letter.
Q19. When writing a printed scientific name with an author citation, which elements should normally be italicised?
Both components of the scientific binomial are italicised. The author citation is written in non-italic type.
Q20. Which statement correctly describes the role of an author citation in scientific nomenclature?
An author citation identifies the authority associated with the valid scientific naming of the taxon. It does not necessarily identify the first person to discover the organism.