Two-part scientific names

Grade 7 Science Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Comparison chart (ITIS)

   common name	genus	species
   bobcat	Lynx	rufus
   Canada lynx	Lynx	canadensis
   domestic cat	Felis	catus
   red fox	Vulpes	vulpes

2. 1.

   Using the chart, which animal is the bobcat's closest relative, Esme?

   • The red fox, as both are reddish
   • The coyote
   • The domestic cat, as it is a cat too
   • The Canada lynx
3. 2.

   A classmate wrote "canis Latrans" for the coyote. How should Jun fix it?

   • CANIS LATRANS
   • Canis latrans
   • latrans Canis
   • Canis Latrans
4. 3.

   A label reads "Mellifera apis" for the honey bee. How should Kira fix it?

   • apis Mellifera
   • Apis Mellifera
   • Apis mellifera
   • Mellifera Apis
5. 4.

   Luz wrote "Acer Rubrum" for the red maple. What should change?

   • Swap the two words
   • Make acer lowercase
   • Nothing: it is right
   • Make rubrum lowercase

6. Comparison chart (ITIS)

   common name	genus	species
   brown bear	Ursus	arctos
   polar bear	Ursus	maritimus
   American black bear	Ursus	americanus
   gray wolf	Canis	lupus
   coyote	Canis	latrans
   red fox	Vulpes	vulpes

7. 5.

   Milo sorts the chart into genus groups. How many genera does the chart hold?

   • 2 genera: bears and dog-like animals
   • 1 genus
   • 6 genera, one per animal
   • 3 genera
8. 6.

   Which animals on the chart share a genus with the jaguar, Noah?

   • The bobcat by itself
   • The lion and the tiger
   • No animal or tree on the chart
   • The domestic cat and the bobcat, as both are cats
9. 7.

   Pia groups the trees on the chart by genus. Which grouping is right?

   • Four genera, one per tree
   • The two red trees; the white oak; the sugar maple
   • The two oaks; the two maples
   • One genus for the four trees
10. 8.

    Leuco = white; cephalus = head; Haliaeetus = sea eagle. Using the key, what does leucocephalus in the bald eagle's name mean, Ren?

    • Sea eagle
    • White-headed
    • Head of white sea
    • Bald
11. 9.

    Apis = bee; melli = honey; fera = carrying. Using the key, what does mellifera in Apis mellifera mean, Tala?

    • Honey-carrying
    • Bee-carrying
    • Flower-loving
    • Honey bee
12. 10.

    Turdus = thrush; migratorius = migrating. Using the key, what does migratorius in Turdus migratorius (American robin) tell about the bird, Zee?

    • It sings at night
    • It is a thrush
    • It is red
    • It migrates