Question

Look at the species name for each alien. How do you think these names were chosen?

Answer 1

Complete question:

You will find the complete question in the attached files

Answer:

1)

• Alienus quadlegicus:  Mouth opened and no arms
• Alienus hairicus: Mouth opened, hairy
• Alienus tritoothicus: Mouth opened, not hairy
• Alienus stripicus: Mouth not opened, horns
• Alienus bloblicus:  Mouth not opened, No legs
• Alienus fuzzicus: Mouth not opened, Legs

2) Genus Alienus

3) Morphological characteristics of aliens are used to identify them and to name them.

Explanation:

1) The dichotomous keys give you information about the groups that are being differentiated to correctly identify them. All you need to do is follow the description of the organisms and the numbers where each description drives you. If you observed correctly the organism, you will reach the scientific name, or genus, or any other taxonomic group you are looking for.

2) Taxonomy is the study of different organisms, their classification into categories according to their morphological and molecular characteristics and their evolutionary relationships. A binomial name is assigned to each organism, composed of a genus and the epithet.  

Among all the categories where organisms are classified, we can find the genus, which includes many species that share some common characteristics that are used to group them together.  

In this example, Alienus is the genus of all these aliens species.

3) Morphological characteristics of aliens are used to identify them and to name them.

• Alienus quadlegicus:  Four-legged alien
• Alienus hairicus: Hairy alien.
• Alienus tritoothicus: Alien with three teeth
• Alienus stripicus: Alien with striped horns
• Alienus bloblicus:  Alien with no shape. Shapeless mass
• Alienus fuzzicus: Short fine-haired alien.