100+ Scientific Names of Animals And Plants: Important For Competitive Exam

The topic of Scientific Names of Animals and Plants is an integral part of static GK. Often, the scientific names of various animals and plants are asked in competitive exams. In this blog post, I have included the most important scientific names based on questions asked in previous years’ competitive exams across India.

Introduction to Binomial Nomenclature

Binomial Nomenclature is the universally accepted method for formally naming species. This system employs two-part names, often derived from Latin, though they may also originate from other languages. These two-part names are known as binomial names or scientific names.

The first part, the generic name, signifies the genus to which the species belongs, providing a broader classification. The second component, the specific name, precisely pinpoints the species within the genus.

Adherence to specific conventions is essential in binomial nomenclature. For instance, the generic name must always begin with a capital letter, while the specific name starts with a lowercase letter. Additionally, the full binomial name should be italicized. An illustrative example can help clarify this naming system.

Modern Humans
Generic Name	Homo
Specific Name	sapiens

It’s important to note that the application of binomial nomenclature is governed by internationally agreed codes of rules, such as the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) for animals and the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICNafp or ICN). These guidelines ensure consistency and clarity in the naming of organisms across the scientific community.

Scientific Names of Animals

The scientific names of animals are a crucial aspect of biological study and are particularly important for candidates preparing for competitive examinations like NDA, CDS, CISF, CRPF, AFCAT, and Agniveer for entry into the Indian Armed Forces. The binomial nomenclature system ensures each species is uniquely identified, which is vital for clear communication in the scientific community and beyond.

✅ List of Major Grasslands of the World: Detailed Notes

List of Scientific Names of Animals

Listed below are the scientific names of a few common animals.

Common Animals Names with Their Scientific Names
Ant	Formicidae
Arabian camel	Camelus dromedarius
African elephant	Loxodonta
Albatross	Diomedeidae
Alpaca	Vicugna pacos
Asian Elephant	Elephas maximus
Bat	Chiroptera
Bird	Aves
Brown Tree Snake	Boiga irregularis
Gaur	Bos gaurus
Goat	Capra aegagrus hircus
Bear	Ursidae
Polar bear	Ursus maritimus
Sun bear	Helarctos malayanus
Blackbuck	Antilope cervicapra
Black rat	Rattus rattus
Buffalo	Bubalus bubalis
Bulbul	Pycnonotidae
Butterfly	Rhopalocera
Cat	Felis catus
Cheetah	Acinonyx jubatus
Chinkara	Gazella bennettii
Cobra	Naja
Cockroach	Blattodea
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis
Cow	Bos taurus
Crocodile	Crocodylus palustris
Deer	Cervidae
Dog	Canis lupus familiaris
Dolphin	Cetacea
Eagle	Accipitridae
Elephant	Elephantidae
fish	Vertebrata
Red fox	Vulpes vulpes
Gavial or Gharial	Gavialis gangeticus
Giraffe	Giraffa camelopardalis
Great horned owl	Bubo virginianus
Hen	Gallus gallus domesticus
Hippopotamus	Hippopotamus amphibius
Horse	Equus caballus
House crow	Corvus splendens
Housefly	Musca domestica
House mouse	Mus musculus
House sparrow	Passer domesticus
House wall Lizard	Hemidactylus flaviviridis
Indian Cobra	Naja naja
parrot	Psittaciformes
Indian Python	Python molurus
Kashmir stag or hangul	Cervus canadensis hanglu
King cobra	Ophiophagus hannah
Koel	Eudynamys scolopaceus
Leopard or panther	Panthera pardus
Monkey	Simiiformes (infraorder)
Mosquito	Culicidae
Lion	Panthera leo
Lizard	Squamata
Nilgai	Boselaphus tragocamelus
Peacock	Pavo cristatus
Pig	Sus
Prawn	Dendrobranchiata
Rabbit	Oryctolagus cuniculus
Rat	Rodentia
Rat snake	Ptyas mucosa
Rattle snake	Crotalinae
Rhesus monkey	Macaca mulatta
Rhinoceros	Rhinoceros unicornis
Sea snake	Hydrophiinae
Sheep	Ovis aries
Siberian crane	Grus leucogeranus
Snakehead	Channidae
Sparrow	Passer domesticus
Spider	Araneae
Starfish	Asteroidea
Tiger	Panthera tigris
Tiger Snake	Notechis scutatus
Wild Ass	Equus africanus asinus
Wild boar	Sus scrofa
Wolf	Canis lupus
Zebra	Equus quagga
Earthworm	Lumbricus
Grasshopper	Caelifera
Honey Bee	Apis
Pigeon	Columba livia
snake	Serpentes

Scientific Names of Plants List

Listed below are the scientific names of a few common plants.

Common Plant Names with Their Scientific Names
Apple	Malus domestica
Bamboo	Bamboosa aridinarifolia
Banana	Musa paradisiaca
Banyan	Ficus benghalensis
Black Gram	Plasoes mungo
Black Pepper	Piper nigrum
Brinjal	Solanum melongena
Capsicum	Capsicum frutescens
Carrot	Daucas carota
Clove	Syzygium aromaticum
Coriander	Coriandrum sativum
Cotton	Gossypium herbaceum
Cucumber	Cucumis sativus
Curry plant	Murraya koenigii
Drumstick	Moringa oleifera
Garlic	Allium sativum
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Green Gram	Phaseolies aulicus
Guava	Psidium guajava
Henna	Lawsonia inermis
Horse Gram	Dolichos biffoeus
Jowar	Sorghum vulgare
Lemon	Citrus limonium
Lettuce	Lactuca sativa
Maize	Zea mays
Mango	Mangifera indica
Mint	Mentha arvensis
Money Plant	Epipremnum aureum
Neem	Azadirachta indica
Onion	Allium cepa
Orange	Citrus aurantium
Pineapple	Ananas comosus
Potato	Solanum tuberosum
Radish	Raphanus sativus
Red Gram	Cajanus cajan
Sandalwood	Santalum album
Spinach	Spinacia oleracea
Tobacco	Nicotina tobaccum
Tomato	Solanum lycopersicum
Tulsi	Ocimum sanctum
Turmeric	Curcuma longa
Watermelon	Citrullus vulgaris
Wheat	Triticum aestivum

✅ All Miss World From India Till 2024 with GK Facts

Scientific Names of Extinct Organisms

Listed below are some of the most renowned extinct organisms, accompanied by their scientific names.

Famous Extinct Organisms with Their Scientific Names
Passenger pigeon	Ectopistes migratorius
Tasmanian tiger	Thylacinus cynocephalus
Moa	Dinornithiformes
T-Rex	Tyrannosaurus rex
Great auk	Pinguinus impennis
Megalodon	Carcharocles megalodon

Frequently Asked Scientific Names

Here’s a table with the scientific names for various animals and plants, which are often inquired about in competitive exams:

Sl. No.	Animal/Plant	Scientific Name
1	Human	Homo sapiens
2	Dog	Canis lupus familiaris
3	Mango	Mangifera indica
4	Lion	Panthera leo
5	Rose	Rosa spp.
6	Tomato	Solanum lycopersicum
7	Tulsi (Holy Basil)	Ocimum sanctum
8	Aloe Vera	Aloe barbadensis miller
9	Salt (Table Salt)	Sodium chloride (NaCl)
10	Cow	Bos taurus
11	Apple	Malus domestica
12	Hibiscus	Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
13	Turmeric	Curcuma longa
14	Tiger	Panthera tigris
15	Peacock	Pavo cristatus
16	Mango Leaf	Mangifera indica (leaf)
17	Touch Me Not Plant	Mimosa pudica
18	Baking Soda	Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)
19	Elephant	Elephas maximus (Asian Elephant) / Loxodonta africana (African Elephant)
20	Carrot	Daucus carota subsp. sativus
21	Blood Cancer (Leukemia)	Not applicable (scientific names are not assigned to diseases)
22	Mushroom	Agaricus bisporus (Common edible mushroom)
23	Maize	Zea mays
24	Vitamin A	Retinol
25	Ginger	Zingiber officinale
26	Frog	Anura (order)
27	Pig	Sus scrofa domesticus
28	Pomegranate	Punica granatum
29	Fish	Depends on the species; for example, Goldfish – Carassius auratus
30	Garlic	Allium sativum
31	Pineapple	Ananas comosus
32	Vitamin C	Ascorbic acid
33	Cockroach	Blattodea (order)
34	Vitamin K	Phylloquinone (K1) / Menaquinones (K2)
35	Earthworm	Lumbricina (order)
36	Money Plant	Epipremnum aureum
37	Sunflower	Helianthus annuus
38	Tree	Not applicable (scientific names are specific to species)

✅ Major Folk Dance of Andhra Pradesh with Key Points

Uses Of Scientific Names

The utilization of scientific names, or Binomial Nomenclature, is a fundamental aspect of taxonomy, where living organisms such as plants and animals are systematically named, often using Latin derivations. This method offers several key benefits:

• Systematic Classification : It facilitates a structured organization of species, simplifying the study and comprehension of specific characteristics, which enhances the systematic understanding of biodiversity.

• Unambiguous Identification : Each species is assigned a unique scientific name, eliminating confusion that may arise from common names and ensuring precise identification across various languages and regions.

• Global Standardization : Scientific names are universally acknowledged and standardized, which allows for consistent communication and documentation in the scientific community.

• Retention of Names : When new scientific insights necessitate the reclassification of a species into a different genus, the specific epithet of the scientific name is typically preserved, maintaining continuity and historical context.

• Comparative Analysis : These names enable researchers to discern the evolutionary relationships and distinctions among species within the same genus, aiding in the construction of phylogenetic trees and evolutionary studies.

Binomial Nomenclature is not just a naming convention; it’s a critical tool for scientific discourse, conservation efforts, and the advancement of biological sciences. Its advantages underscore its role in providing stability and continuity in the ever-evolving field of taxonomy¹[1]²[2]³[3].

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How to write scientific names of organisms?

When writing a scientific name, the conventions of binomial nomenclature dictate that the genus name is always capitalized, while the specific epithet, or species descriptor, begins with a lowercase letter. This rule applies regardless of whether the specific epithet is derived from a proper noun. For example, the scientific name for humans is written as Homo sapiens, not Homo Sapiens.

Here’s a quick guide to the formatting rules:

• Genus Name: Always capitalized (e.g., Homo)
• Specific Epithet: Always lowercase (e.g., sapiens)
• Italicization: The entire scientific name should be italicized

Q2. Who came up with the concept of having scientific names?

The concept of scientific names, also known as binomial nomenclature, was developed by the Swedish botanist and physician Carl Linnaeus in the mid-1700s. He introduced this system to provide a standardized and universal language for naming species, which greatly facilitated scientific communication. Linnaeus first implemented this system in his book “Species Plantarum,” published in. This method of naming organisms using a genus and species designation is still in use today and forms the basis for the scientific classification of all life forms.

Q3. What is trinomen? Give an example.

Trinomen is the trinomial name given to animals apart from the genus name and the species name. It is usually given to identify a subspecies. For example, the trinomen of the grey wolf subspecies, the Arctic wolf, is Canis lupus arctos.

Q4. What is the scientific name for modern humans?

The scientific name for modern humans is Homo sapiens . This name was established by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 publication, “Systema Naturae”. The genus Homo identifies the group of species to which humans belong, and the specific epithet sapiens means “wise” or “intelligent” in Latin. Modern humans are sometimes further classified as Homo sapiens sapiens to distinguish them from our direct ancestors.