Scientific name

A formal Latin or latinized name applied to a taxonomic group of animals or plants. A species' scientific name is a two-part combination consisting of the genus followed by the species. The name is italicized or underlined. For example, the scientific name of the little brown bat is Myotis lucifugus. The genus name is Myotis, and the species name is lucifugus. If an animal species has been further divided into subspecies, or a plant species further divided into varieties, a third part is added to the scientific name. The Arizona bat is Myotis lucifugus occultus; "occultus" distinguishes the Arizona subspecies from other subspecies of the little brown bat.