genusspecies

Genusspecies refers to the two-part scientific name used to identify a species, formed by the genus name and the specific epithet in binomial nomenclature. This binomen uniquely identifies a species within the biological classification system.

Construction and formatting: The genus name is capitalized and the specific epithet is lower case; both parts are typically written in italics in print. The genus may include multiple species, each with its own epithet, while specific epithets can recur in different genera.

Purpose and usage: The genusspecies name provides a universal, stable label for species, enabling precise communication across languages and regions. It is often accompanied by the authority and year of description, and it is tied to a type specimen that anchors the name to physical evidence.

Taxonomic dynamics: Species can be moved to different genera as classifications revise understanding, which changes the genus part of the binomial while preserving the epithet in many cases. Such changes require updates in taxonomic databases and nomenclature rules to maintain consistency.

Examples: Homo sapiens; Escherichia coli; Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). These exemplify how genus and species together distinguish closely related organisms and reflect evolutionary relationships.