Question

Scientists use a system called binomial nomenclature to classify organisms. For example, the goldfish is known as Carassius auratus. Each of the two names has a different significance. Which of the following correctly describes the meaning of the two names? a. Carassius is a distant evolutionary ancestor of the goldfish, while auratus is a more recent species. b. Carassius is a group of organisms with similar behavior, while auratus is a group with similar structures. c. Carassius is a group of organisms with similar external structures, while auratus is a group with similar internal structures. d. Carassius is a group of different organisms with similar structures, while auratus is a smaller group of memebers that can only breed with another auratus.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: d. Carassius is a group of different organisms with similar structures, while auratus is a smaller group of memebers that can only breed with another auratus.

Carassius represents the name of genus. In binomial nomenclature it is the generic name shared by the group of close relatives. In this case, Carassius is a genus in the family of ray-finned fishes.

Auratus represents the species of the fish and it is specific unique epithet within the genus.