genusnaming

Genus naming is the practice of assigning and formalizing the name of a genus, the taxonomic rank above species and below family. In biological nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of a species’ scientific name and is always capitalized. The full binomial name consists of the genus name and the species epithet, for example Homo sapiens or Canis lupus.

Names are governed by formal codes: the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) for animals; the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants (ICN) for plants, algae, and fungi. These codes require Latin or latinized forms, specify authorship and date, and set rules for publication, priority, and the designation of a type species. They aim to ensure stability and universality in naming across languages and regions.

Genus names are typically Latin or latinized nouns or adjectives. They may honor a person, describe a characteristic, or indicate a place. The gender of a genus name affects the form of the species epithet; epithets must agree in gender, number, and case with the genus name.

Publication standards require a formal description or diagnosis, the designation of a type species for the genus, and publication in a recognized work with a date. If two genera are later found to be the same, the older name has priority; homonyms (the same name used for different taxa) are resolved by replacement names.

Examples include Homo, Canis, and Rosa in animals and plants. Changes in classification—driven by new data such as genetic analysis—can move species between genera or alter the circumscription of genera, while the rules of priority and typification remain central to nomenclature.