Lecture 1 - Etymology

Question 1

What is Etymology?

Answer 1

It is the study of word origins.

Question 2

What is Taxonomy?

Answer 2

The practice ( and a little theory ) of classifying organisms.

Question 3

What is systemics?

Answer 3

The theory ( and a little practice ) of classifying organisms

• asking the questions of Why?

Question 4

What is nomenclature?

Answer 4

A system of rules for naming things

Question 5

What is Ethnotaxonomy?

Answer 5

The examination of how different cultures classify plants and animals.

Question 6

What is a common name?

Answer 6

Name for species that is not based on the linnaean system.

Question 7

what are the three main problems with common names?

Answer 7

• Common names can differ among countries and languages
• They can have the same name for different species
• Common names can imply incorrect relationships.

Question 8

Who made the Linnaean System?

Answer 8

A Swedish Botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707 - 1778)

Question 9

What as the book called that first proposed the Linnaeus system?

Answer 9

Systema Naturea ( System of nature)

Question 10

What is the Lannaeus system?

Answer 10

• The use of latin as a universal language of scientific nomenclature.
• Use of binomen (Two part name) for each species.

Question 11

How is the Binomen split up?

Answer 11

• the first part of the name is the Genus name
• The second name is the Specific Epithet

together they make the species name.

eg. Homo Sapiens

Question 12

Within the Linnaean system, what are groups of organisms called?

Answer 12

Taxa

Question 13

What are nested subsets within the Linnaean system?

Answer 13

Taxonomic Levels or ranks

Question 14

All animals must be placed within the following Seven taxonomic levels:

Answer 14

• Kingdom
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species

Question 15

What higher taxonomic category was introduced to the linnaean system? what is it for?

Answer 15

Domain:
Used to recognize the most basic divisions of life.
- ie. Archaea, Bacteria, Eukaryota

Question 16

What is the first rule for the Linnaean system?

Answer 16

1. Genus and Specific epithets are always italicized.

Question 17

What is the secound rule for the Linnaean system?

Answer 17

2. Taxon names (except specific epithet) capitalized when used as nouns but not when used as adjectives.

Question 18

What is the Third rule for the Linnaean system?

Answer 18

3. A genus name may be abbreviated but never the specific epithet.

( Alces alces = A. alces not Alces a.)

Question 19

What is the ICZN, and why was it made?

Answer 19

International Code of Zoological Nomencalture.

it was created as a set of rules for naming specises

Question 20

When was the ICZN founded?

Answer 20

1905

Question 21

What was one thing that was changed after the ICZN was introduced?

Answer 21

They gave seperate naming codes fro Plants+algae+fungi
and for
bacteria

Question 22

What is the first rule we need to know from the ICZN?

Answer 22

1 Jan 1758, the first day that published Binomials are considered official

Question 23

What is the secound rule we need to know from the ICZN?

Answer 23

The oldest published name( back to 1758) for a taxon is considered the correct one.

This means that it has priority and is called the SENIOR SYNONYM

Question 24

What is a junior synonym.

Answer 24

A taxon that is younger when compared to another taxon.

Question 25

What is the Third rule we need to know from the ICZN?

Answer 25

The person who originally described the Taxon is considered the Taxon's author.

Question 26

What is the fourth rule we need to know from the ICZN?

Answer 26

Once a name for a taxon has been published, even if it was used incorrectly, it can never be used for another taxon.

Question 27

What is the fifth rule we need to know from the ICZN?

Answer 27

If the same name is used for two diffrent taxa, oldest name takes priority. ( Senior homonym )

Question 28

What is the sixth rule we need to know from the ICZN?

Answer 28

Same nams from diffrent codes are not homonyms

Question 29

What is the seventh rule we need to know from the ICZN?

Answer 29

Specific epithets can be shared, but not in the same Genus.

Question 30

What is the eighth rule we need to know from the ICZN?

Answer 30

Names must be in latin alphabet ( Not cyrillic )

Question 31

What is the ninth rule we need to know from the ICZN?

Answer 31

Family names for animals end in -idae ( for plants -aceae), subfamilies in - inae (Plants -oideae)

Question 32

What is the tenth rule we need to know from the ICZN?

Answer 32

If a species s placed in a new genus, for whatever reason, this is indicated by the parentheses around the authority.

Question 33

Can there be any exceptions to the ICZN rules?

Answer 33

Yes, only if there is a fear of a threat to stability of scientific knowledge.