Understanding Genus and Species
Every living organism has a two-part scientific name:
Official Rules for Writing Scientific Names:- Genus name is written first
- Genus starts with a capital letter
- Species name is written second
- Species starts with a small letter
- Both words are written in italics
- Example: Homo sapiens
Second word → Species
What is Genus?
Genus is a group of closely related species that share common characteristics.
Examples:- Panthera → Lion, Tiger
- Canis → Dog, Wolf
- Homo → Human
= Group of species
What is Species?
Species is the smallest unit of classification. Members can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Examples:- sapiens → Human
- leo → Lion
- tigris → Tiger
= One kind
Genus vs Species – Quick Comparison
| Feature | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Position | First word | Second word |
| Capital letter? | Yes | No |
| Example | Homo | sapiens |
| Can be used alone? | Yes | No |
| Number of types | Many species | Only one type |
| Breed & get babies? | Sometimes (infertile) | Always (fertile) |
Human
Genus: Homo
Species: sapiens
Full Name: Homo sapiens
Lion
Genus: Panthera
Species: leo
Full Name: Panthera leo
Tiger
Genus: Panthera
Species: tigris
Full Name: Panthera tigris
Dog
Genus: Canis
Species: familiaris
Full Name: Canis familiaris
Mustard
Genus: Brassica
Species: campestris
Full Name: Brassica campestris
Pea
Genus: Pisum
Species: sativum
Full Name: Pisum sativum
Maize
Genus: Zea
Species: mays
Full Name: Zea mays
Potato
Genus: Solanum
Species: tuberosum
Full Name: Solanum tuberosum