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!

Try here.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...xoVj1o75v2dyXQ