Question

Specific epithet is
A. First word in the scientific name of a species
B. Second word in the scientific name of a species
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: The term specific epithet refers to the species name in the biological nomenclature that is assigned to a species in accordance with the rules and regulations of giving a new species name.

Complete answer:
The term is used to refer to the second part of the biological name of an organism, which is given to a newly identified species is the specific epithet. The organisms that are newly identified, are given names according to the biological nomenclature, in which two parts of the names are given to them.
The first part of the name comprises its genus name or simply the name of the genus the organism belongs to, and the second part of the name is the species name, which is known as the species epithet or the specific epithet. A descriptive substitute for the name is known as an epithet.
This can be clearer with an example:
The biological name for the tiger is Panthera tigris.
A generic name or genus name = Panthera
trivial name = tigris
A specific name or the specific epithet = Panthera tigris.

There is a method to write the scientific name, as the specific epithet name begins in a small letter, whereas the genus name starts in a capital letter. The specific name of the organisms is to be written or printed in the italicized form. Also, the scientific name can be written by abbreviating the genus name, but not the specific epithet.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: A common binomen is to set a rule for naming all living organisms on the earth. They follow a biological nomenclature that was introduced by Carolus Linnaeus, who proposed a formal system of giving names to the organisms that are indicated by two words, the genus and species names, of which the second part of the name is the specific epithet. These words are to be Latinized when written or printed.