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 have red in the name
- Yes: rubrum and rubra match
- Yes: both are trees
The bobcat is Lynx rufus and the Canada lynx is Lynx canadensis. Only one is called a lynx. Are they in the same genus, Esme?
- No: one lives in Canada
- No: their common names differ
- Yes: both are Lynx
- No: their species words differ
Jun says the domestic cat must be the lion's closest relative on the chart, since both are cats. Agree or disagree?
- Agree: cats are one genus
- Disagree: lions have no relatives
- Agree: both are called cats
- Disagree: the tiger shares its genus
Kira says two living things with the same species word, like rubra and rubrum, are close relatives. Agree or disagree?
- Disagree: neither word matters
- Disagree: relatives share a genus
- Agree: the same species word means relatives
- Agree: red things are related
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?
- Disagree: their species words differ
- Agree: they share the genus Canis
- Disagree: their common names differ
- Disagree: wolves have no genus
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
- Neither part
- maritimus, of the sea
- Both mean ice
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?
- Brown bear and red fox, as both are brown or red
- Polar bear and gray wolf
- Polar bear and brown bear
- Gray wolf and red fox, as both are dog-like
Using the chart, which pair is most closely related, Tala?
- Northern red oak and sunflower
- Red maple and sugar maple
- Sugar maple and sunflower
- Red maple and northern red oak, as both are red
Using the chart, which pair is most closely related, Zee?
- Canada lynx and domestic cat
- Jaguar and lion
- Domestic cat and lion, as both are cats
- Jaguar and Canada lynx