Nomenclature of Animals: Binomial and Trinomial

In this article we will discuss about binomial and trinomial nomenclature of animals.

Binomial Nomenclature:

The scientific method of naming plants and animals by applying two components where the first component is generic and the sec­ond part is specific, is called binomial no­menclature. It was evolved by Linnaeus and adopted by the International Code of Zoo­logical Nomenclature.

Scientific names of a few common animals are given below:

Rohu—Labeo rohita,

Pigeon—Columba livia,

Tiger—Panthera tigris.

Trinomial Nomenclature:

Sometimes it becomes imperative to recognise subspecies within a species and is given a third specific name. Such system of naming is known as Trinomial nomencla­ture. The scientific name of the lion is Panthera leo (Linn.). The same species of the specimen collected in different countries shows minor differences from the original form. So a third sub-specific name becomes necessary in many cases.

The scientific name of the Indian lion is designated as Panthera leo persica (Linn.). A trinomen is used to recognise a subspecies. International Rules of Zoologi­cal Nomenclature recognised the trinomial nomenclature.

The adoption of Latinised names for the or­ganisms and the scheme of classification accord­ing to hierarchy are the two main themes of the classificatory secret of Linnaeus. The selection of Latin as the language of nomen­clature is quite reasonable because it remains unchanged through generations and is not subjected to grammatical changes as it hap­pens in other vernacular languages.