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: both are dog-like animals
- Yes: wild animals share one genus
The red maple is Acer rubrum and the northern red oak is Quercus rubra. Does "red" make them the same genus, Bo?
- Yes: both have red in the name
- Yes: rubrum and rubra match
- Yes: both are trees
- No: their genera differ
Jun says the domestic cat must be the lion's closest relative on the chart, since both are cats. Agree or disagree?
- Disagree: the tiger shares its genus
- Disagree: lions have no relatives
- Agree: cats are one genus
- Agree: both are called cats
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
- Agree: the same species word means relatives
- Disagree: neither word matters
- 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: wolves have no genus
- Disagree: their common names differ
- Disagree: their species words differ
- Agree: they share the genus Canis
Ursus = bear; maritimus = of the sea. Using the key, which word part of Ursus maritimus fits polar bears' life on sea ice, Noah?
- maritimus, of the sea
- Neither part
- Ursus, bear
- Both mean ice
Helio = sun; anthus = flower; annuus = yearly. Using the key, which name means yearly sun flower, Pia?
- Annuus helianthus
- Annuus anthus
- Helianthus helianthus
- 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
- Gray wolf and red fox, as both are dog-like
- Brown bear and red fox, as both are brown or red
- Polar bear and gray wolf
Using the chart, which pair is most closely related, Tala?
- Red maple and sugar maple
- Red maple and northern red oak, as both are red
- Northern red oak and sunflower
- Sugar maple and sunflower
Using the chart, which pair is most closely related, Zee?
- Domestic cat and lion, as both are cats
- Jaguar and lion
- Canada lynx and domestic cat
- Jaguar and Canada lynx