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7th grade Two-part scientific names worksheet

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Two-part scientific names

Grade 7 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. Read this first

    Comparison chart (ITIS)

    common namegenusspecies
    red foxVulpesvulpes
    gray wolfCanislupus

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Comparison chart (ITIS)

    common namegenusspecies
    gray wolfCanislupus
    coyoteCanislatrans

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. Helio = sun; anthus = flower; annuus = yearly. Using the key, which name means yearly sun flower, Pia?

    • Helianthus helianthus
    • Annuus helianthus
    • Annuus anthus
    • Helianthus annuus

  11. Comparison chart (ITIS)

    common namegenusspecies
    polar bearUrsusmaritimus
    brown bearUrsusarctos
    gray wolfCanislupus
    red foxVulpesvulpes

  12. 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

  13. 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
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7th grade Two-part scientific names worksheet – printable
Print: 123456

About this worksheet

Two-part scientific names. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can split a scientific name into genus and species and write it with the genus capitalized.
  • I can use the genus to find close relatives, and say why common names can mislead.
  • I can read a name's meaning from a word-part key.

Standard: none (IXL parity)

Words to know

scientific name: A two-part name for one kind of living thing: genus, then species

genus (genera): A group of closely related species; the first word of the name

species word: The second word; it is not a name by itself

common name: An everyday name, which can differ from place to place

word part: A piece of a Latin or Greek word with its own meaning

Common mistakes

Your child mixed up which word is the genus. The genus comes first and has the capital letter; the species word comes second.

Your child capitalized the wrong word. Only the genus starts with a capital: Panthera leo, never panthera Leo.

Your child treated the second word as the whole name, or matched names by their second word. The species word only works with its genus.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with two-part scientific names?

Your child mixed up which word is the genus. The genus comes first and has the capital letter; the species word comes second.

Are these 7th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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