What is a species?

Question 1

Who was the Swedish scientist who normalized binomial nomenclature and modern taxonomy?

Answer 1

Carl Linnaeus

Question 2

What is Taxonomy?

Answer 2

The science of naming and organizing organisms into related groups

Question 3

What system of taxonomical classification did Linnaeus propose?

Answer 3

A binomial name–a genus name followed by a specific epithet unique to a species

Question 4

What are the parts of the name Tyrannosaurus rex?

Answer 4

Genus: Tyrannosaurus, Specific Epithet: rex

Question 5

How should binomial names be formatted?

Answer 5

Italicized with the genus capitalized

Question 6

Can different species have the same specific epithet?

Answer 6

Yes, as long as they originate from different genuses

Question 7

What is the rule of priority?

Answer 7

Once an organism has been given a valid name that name cannot be changed and any other species cannot have the same name.

Question 8

What must a scientist do to give a species a binomial name?

Answer 8

They must publish a description of the species in a widely distributed and peer-reviewed scientific publication and must designate a holotype.

Question 9

What is a peer-reviewed publication?

Answer 9

A publication by which authors must first have their pieces scrutinized and reviewed by other experts in the field to ensure accurate information.

Question 10

What is a Holotype?

Answer 10

A physical exemplary specimen of a new species that must be made available so that other scientists may study them. Shows the unique characteristics of the new species.

Question 11

What is interspecific variation?

Answer 11

Morphological differences in different species

Question 12

What are differences among the same species called?

Answer 12

Intraspecific variation

Question 13

What are certain sources of intraspecific variation in dinosaurs?

Answer 13

sexual dimorphism, ontogenetic variation, individual variation, and taphonomic variation

Question 14

What is sexual dimorphism?

Answer 14

Differences between sexes of the same species, commonly used tell the sexes apart as well as for courtship displays

Question 15

What is ontogenetic variation?

Answer 15

Differences in organisms as they age, such as their size as well as changes in relative proportions of the species, isometric and non-isometric.

Question 16

What is individual variation?

Answer 16

The slight variation that occurs among individuals of a species, such as that no one looks exactly the same

Question 17

What is taphonomic variation?

Answer 17

When studying fossils there can be variations in the same species by plastic deformation and how the fossil was preserved.

Question 18

How does the biological species concept describe a species?

Answer 18

A species is made up of individuals that are able to mate and produce fertile successful offspring

Question 19

What are some problems with the BSC in paleontology and in general?

Answer 19

We cannot observe successful interbreeding between fossils, some species can interbreed and create hybrids yet we still consider them different species, some species reproduce solely asexually meaning that there is not mating to be observed

Question 20

What is a population?

Answer 20

individuals of the same species that live within the same geographic area and interbreed

Question 21

What is the morphological species concept and how is it useful for paleontologists?

Answer 21

The MSC states that organisms that look the same are part of the same species, this is useful because it allows paleontologists to group similar looking fossils into a single species.

Question 22

What can cause problems when using the MSC to determine species?

Answer 22

Intraspecific Variation

Question 23

What are the paleontologists who require few differences to name a new species called?

Answer 23

Splitters

Question 24

What are the paleontologists who require a lot of differences to name a new species called?

Answer 24

Lumpers

Question 25

What is Hesperonychus?

Answer 25

One of the smallest dinosaurs from North America, a good example of difficulties naming new species due to its small size, able to be called a new species due to the unique features of its pelvis.