Which part of binomial nomenclature identifies the species?

• A. First part of the scientific name in binomial nomenclature
• B. A group of closely related species
• C. Second part of the scientific name in binomial nomenclature
• D. A four-letter code representing a genus

Answer: (C)

In binomial nomenclature, every species has a two-part name: the genus and the species epithet. The part that identifies the species is the second word, the species epithet, because it specifies which species within that genus you’re talking about. For example, in Homo sapiens, Homo is the genus (a group of closely related species), and sapiens is the species epithet that, together with Homo, uniquely identifies humans. The first part does not identify the species on its own; it indicates the broader genus. There isn’t a universal four-letter code for a genus in this system—the two-part name is always a genus name plus a species epithet, forming a unique species designation.