Taxonomy II: Nomenclature

Which of the following expressions does not follow the rules of nomenclature for a species name?

• a.T. rex
• b.Tyrannosaurus Rex
• c.Tyrannosaurus rex
• d.tyrannosaurus rex

Official taxonomic names must make sense in relating to the biology of the species being named.

• a.true
• b.false

The first scientist-president of the American Museum of Natural History was

• a.Carl Linnaeus.
• b.Henry Fairfield Osborn.
• c.M. Spondylus.
• d.Ted Roosevelt.

Monospondylus and Tyrannosaurus are generic synonyms.

• a.true
• b.false

Homo sapiens is

• a.a taxon.
• b.a species.
• c.a binomial name.
• d.All of the above

Osborn's name for T. rex has won out over Cope's because

• a.kids and scientists know it well.
• b.the Principle of Priority was overruled.
• c.Osborn was the president of the museum.
• d.B and D

As shown in the example of Manospondylus vs. Tyrranosaurus naming debate, the principle of priority

• a.allows for exceptions when the younger of two taxonomic names is more widely known.
• b.means that when taxonomic names are known, the first name given to the species is always the authentic one.
• c.shows that one species can be known by two different taxonomic names without it causing confusion.
• d.shows that the Linnaean system of taxonomy removes any chance that one species could be named twice.

Linnaeus designed the system of binomial nomenclature so that

• a.all organisms would have a single, Latin-sounding name.
• b.scientists would stop arguing about the correct names of organisms.
• c.there was a clear, distinct naming system recognized around the world.
• d.there was a way to classify subspecies of organisms.