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
- No: Vulpes and Canis differ
- Yes: wild animals share one genus
- Yes: both are dog-like animals
The red maple is Acer rubrum and the northern red oak is Quercus rubra. Does "red" make them the same genus, Bo?
- Yes: rubrum and rubra match
- Yes: both are trees
- No: their genera differ
- Yes: both have red in the name
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: their species words differ
- Yes: both are Lynx
- No: one lives in Canada
- No: their common names differ
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
- Agree: cats are one genus
- Disagree: the tiger shares its genus
- Disagree: lions have no relatives
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?
- Disagree: their species words differ
- Agree: they share the genus Canis
- Disagree: wolves have no genus
- Disagree: their common names differ
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?
- Annuus helianthus
- Helianthus 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?
- 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
- Polar bear and brown bear
Using the chart, which pair is most closely related, Zee?
- Canada lynx and domestic cat
- Domestic cat and lion, as both are cats
- Jaguar and lion
- Jaguar and Canada lynx