Two-part scientific names
Grade 7 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Comparison chart (ITIS)
common name genus species red fox Vulpes vulpes gray wolf Canis lupus The red fox is Vulpes vulpes and the gray wolf is Canis lupus. Are they in the same genus, Ari?
- Yes: both end in a v word
- Yes: wild animals share one genus
- Yes: both are dog-like animals
- No: Vulpes and Canis differ
The red maple is Acer rubrum and the northern red oak is Quercus rubra. Does "red" make them the same genus, Bo?
- No: their genera differ
- Yes: both are trees
- Yes: rubrum and rubra match
- Yes: both have red in the name
Jun says the domestic cat must be the lion's closest relative on the chart, since both are cats. Agree or disagree?
- Agree: both are called cats
- Disagree: the tiger shares its genus
- Disagree: lions have no relatives
- Agree: cats are one genus
Kira says two living things with the same species word, like rubra and rubrum, are close relatives. Agree or disagree?
- Disagree: relatives share a genus
- Disagree: neither word matters
- Agree: red things are related
- Agree: the same species word means relatives
Comparison chart (ITIS)
common name genus species gray wolf Canis lupus coyote Canis latrans Luz says the gray wolf and the coyote are close relatives because both are in Canis. Agree or disagree?
- Agree: they share the genus Canis
- Disagree: their species words differ
- Disagree: wolves have no genus
- Disagree: their common names differ
Quercus = oak; Acer = maple; rubra = red; alba = white. Using the key, which name means red oak, Milo?
- Quercus rubra
- Quercus alba
- Acer rubra
- Rubra quercus
Ursus = bear; maritimus = of the sea. Using the key, which word part of Ursus maritimus fits polar bears' life on sea ice, Noah?
- Ursus, bear
- maritimus, of the sea
- Neither part
- Both mean ice
Helio = sun; anthus = flower; annuus = yearly. Using the key, which name means yearly sun flower, Pia?
- Helianthus helianthus
- Annuus helianthus
- Annuus anthus
- Helianthus annuus
Comparison chart (ITIS)
common name genus species polar bear Ursus maritimus brown bear Ursus arctos gray wolf Canis lupus red fox Vulpes vulpes Using the chart, which pair is most closely related, Ren?
- Polar bear and brown bear
- Brown bear and red fox, as both are brown or red
- Polar bear and gray wolf
- Gray wolf and red fox, as both are dog-like
Using the chart, which pair is most closely related, Tala?
- Red maple and sugar maple
- Northern red oak and sunflower
- Sugar maple and sunflower
- Red maple and northern red oak, as both are red