Specific name

Definition

In zoological nomenclature, the second element of a species binomen—the epithet that follows the genus name and together with it forms the complete scientific name of a species. The specific name is always uncapitalized (even when derived from a proper noun) and is treated grammatically as an adjective or noun in apposition to the genus. It does not carry independent taxonomic status; a specific name is valid only in combination with its genus.

Etymology

From Latin specificus 'having a particular form or quality' + name, in taxonomic usage since Linnaeus (1758).

Example

In the honey bee Apis mellifera, 'mellifera' is the specific name; it changes to 'melliferus' in the combination Apis melliferus if the genus were masculine, illustrating the grammatical agreement required between genus and specific name.

Synonyms

• species epithet
• trivial name

Related Terms

• binomen
• generic name
• Genus
• Species
• trinomen
• subspecific name
• Nomenclature
• International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

Usage Notes

In zoology, 'specific name' has this precise meaning; in botany, the same term sometimes refers to the entire binomial (genus + epithet), while 'specific epithet' refers to the second part alone. Specialists avoid confusion by using 'species epithet' when discussing the second element across kingdoms. The specific name alone is never italicized in isolation; only the full binomen receives italics. A specific name may be repeated in different genera (homonymy) without conflict, as its uniqueness is determined only in combination with its genus.