The Linnaean system and binomial namesSpec 4.6.4
Traditionally, living things have been classified into groups depending on their structure and characteristics, in a system developed by Carl Linnaeus.
Linnaeus classified living things into: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. Organisms are named by the binomial system of genus and species.
| Level | Name |
|---|---|
| Genus | Homo |
| Species | sapiens |
| Binomial name | Homo sapiens |
In a binomial name, the genus is written first with a capital letter, and the species second with a lower-case letter. Binomial names are written in italics or underlined.