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View Full Version : Nomenclature: How to Name New Species of Animals


JasperTScott
Sep 22, 2015, 08:31 AM
Hello, I'm a writer writing a science fiction novel that involves travel to an earth-type planet with its own fauna.

I would love to have some realistic names for some of the alien animals described.

I understand that scientific names are typically in Latin, but the naming system escapes me. Could someone help me understand in lamens terms how to name a new species of animal? Perhaps you could give me some examples I could use in my book.

One species I need a name for is a eight-fingered bipedal amphibian (bipedal in the terrestrial stage). I came up with "Octari" but I have no idea how to turn that into a formal scientific name with two or three parts.

Thanks in advance for your help!

ma0641
Sep 22, 2015, 05:36 PM
Try here.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDwQFjADahUKEwjWrPfG9IvIAhWLJB4KHZx4CD8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmaps2.eol.org%2Finfo%2F467&usg=AFQjCNFgHUALK7cKgnhs9AESQ-kcdx9NhA&sig2=JGKuvaz6xoVj1o75v2dyXQ