Specific epithet (zoology)

In zoological nomenclature, the specific name (also specific epithet or species epithet) is the second part (the second name) within the name of a species (a binomen). The first part of the name of a species is the name of the genus or the generic name.

The rules and regulations governing the giving of a new species name are explained in the article species description.

Grammatically, a binomen (and a trinomen, also) must be treated as if it were a Latin phrase, no matter which language the words were originally taken from. (This gives some justification to the popular usage of the phrase "Latin name" instead of the more correct phrase "scientific name".) Grammatically (using Latin grammar), the specific name must adhere to certain conventions. The specific name can either be formed as:

In botanical nomenclature, "name" always refers to the whole name (of a species or otherwise), whereas in zoological nomenclature it can refer to either part of the binomen. Thus Hedera helix (common ivy, English ivy) is the name of the species; Hedera is the name of the genus; but helix is the specific epithet, not the specific name.

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