Scientific Names of Animals and Birds

Scientific Names of Animals and Birds are more than just a string of Latin words. These scientific names serve as global languages, transcending linguistic barriers, and allowing scientists and enthusiasts worldwide to identify and study creatures accurately. Besides this, these Scientific Names of Animals and Birds are also important to understanding Animals and Birds and providing information about their family tree. In this article, we will look into the Common Animals and Birds Names with Their Scientific Names.

List of Scientific Names of Some Common Animals

Scientific names of some common animals are listed in the below table:

Scientific Names of Animals
Common Animals Names	Scientific Name
Ant	Formicidae
Arabian Camel	Camelus dromedarius
African Elephant	Loxodonta
Asian Elephant	Elephas maximus
Bat	Chiroptera
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
Butterfly	Rhopalocera
Cat	Felis catus
Cheetah	Acinonyx jubatus
Chinkara	Gazella bennettii
Cobra	Naja
Cockroach	Blattodea
Cow	Bos taurus
Crocodile	Crocodylus palustris
Deer	Cervidae
Dog	Canis lupus familiaris
Dolphin	Cetacea
Elephant	Elephantidae
Fish	Vertebrata
Red Fox	Vulpes vulpes
Gharial	Gavialis gangeticus
Giraffe	Giraffa camelopardalis
Hippopotamus	Hippopotamus amphibius
Horse	Equus caballus
Housefly	Musca domestica
House Mouse	Mus musculus
House Wall Lizard	Hemidactylus flaviviridis
Indian Cobra	Naja naja
Indian Python	Python molurus
Kashmiri Stag or Hangul	Cervus canadensis hanglu
King Cobra	Ophiophagus hannah
Leopard or Panther	Panthera pardus
Monkey	Simiiformes
Mosquito	Culicidae
Lion	Panthera leo
Lizard	Squamata
Nilgai	Boselaphus tragocamelus
Pig	Sus scrofa
Prawn	Dendrobranchiata
Rabbit	Oryctolagus cuniculus
Rat	Rodentia
Rattle Snake	Crotalinae
Rhesus Monkey	Macaca mulatta
Rhinoceros	Rhinoceros unicornis
Sheep	Ovis aries
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
Snake	Serpentes

Scientific Names of Birds

Below are the scientific names of several familiar birds:

Scientific Names of Birds
Common Birds Name	Scientific Name
Birds	Aves
Bulbul	Pycnonotidae
Eagle	Accipitridae
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus
Hen	Gallus gallus domesticus
House Crow	Corvus splendens
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus
Koel	Eudynamys scolopaceus
Parrot	Psittaciformes
Peacock	Pavo cristatus
Pigeon	Columba livia
Siberian Crane	Grus leucogeranus
Sparrow	Passer domesticus

Taxonomic Classification of Selected Animals

This table outlines each level of classification from kingdom to species for these animals:

Common Name	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Lion	Animalia	Chordata	Mammalia	Carnivora	Felidae	Panthera	Panthera leo
Giraffe	Animalia	Chordata	Mammalia	Artiodactyla	Giraffidae	Giraffa	Giraffa camelopardalis
Elephant	Animalia	Chordata	Mammalia	Proboscidea	Elephantidae	Loxodonta	Loxodonta africana
Kangaroo	Animalia	Chordata	Mammalia	Diprotodontia	Macropodidae	Macropus	Macropus rufus
Platypus	Animalia	Chordata	Mammalia	Monotremata	Ornithorhynchidae	Ornithorhynchus	Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Scientific Names of Extinct Organisms

Scientific names of some common extinct organisms are listed below:

Famous Extinct Organisms
Organism	Scientific Name
Tasmanian tiger	Thylacinus cynocephalus
T-Rex	Tyrannosaurus rex
Megalodon	Carcharocles megalodon
Passenger pigeon	Ectopistes migratorius
Great Auk	Pinguinus impennis
Moa	Dinornithiformes

Etymology of Scientific Names of Animals

This table provides insights into the origins and meanings behind their scientific names:

Common Name	Scientific Name	Etymology of Name
Lion	Panthera leo	“Panthera” is Greek for “panther,” while “leo” is Latin for “lion.” Together, they denote “lion panther.”
Giraffe	Giraffa camelopardalis	“Giraffa” comes from Arabic “zarāfah,” meaning “fast walker.” “Camelopardalis” is Latin for “camel leopard,” referring to its camel-like shape and leopard-like spots.
Elephant	Loxodonta africana	“Loxodonta” comes from Greek “loxós,” meaning “oblique-sided,” and “odónt,” meaning “tooth,” referring to the elephant’s sloped teeth. “Africana” denotes its African origin.
Kangaroo	Macropus rufus	“Macropus” is derived from Greek “makrós,” meaning “long,” and “poús,” meaning “foot,” referring to the animal’s long feet. “Rufus” is Latin for “red,” describing its coat color.
Platypus	Ornithorhynchus anatinus	“Ornithorhynchus” combines Greek “ornitho,” meaning “bird,” and “rhynchus,” meaning “snout,” referring to its duck-bill. “Anatinus” is Latin for “duck-like.”

Check: Photosynthesis

Binomial Nomenclature is a formal way to name species, using two names usually derived from Latin, though they can come from other languages too. This two-part name, also known as a scientific name, highlights the genus and species of an organism. The first part tells us the genus, and the second part specifies the exact species.

In Binomial Nomenclature, there are specific rules to follow. The generic name is always capitalized, while the specific name is not. Additionally, the entire name should be italicized.

Interesting Facts of Some Common Animals and Birds

This are the interesting facts about each animal listed:

Animals and Birds	Scientific Name	Interesting Fact
Ant	Formicidae	Ants can lift 20 times their body weight.
Arabian Camel	Camelus dromedarius	Camels have three sets of eyelids and two rows of eyelashes to keep sand out of their eyes.
African Elephant	Loxodonta	African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth.
Asian Elephant	Elephas maximus	Unlike African elephants, Asian elephants have smaller ears.
Bat	Chiroptera	Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained flight.
Birds	Aves	Birds are descendants of dinosaurs, specifically theropods.
Brown Tree Snake	Boiga irregularis	This snake is an invasive species on Guam, where it has caused the extinction of several bird species.
Gaur	Bos gaurus	The gaur is the largest species of wild cattle, bigger than the African buffalo.
Goat	Capra aegagrus hircus	Goats have rectangular pupils, which allow them to have a wide field of vision.
Bear	Ursidae	Bears have an excellent sense of smell, better than dogs or possibly any other mammal.
Polar Bear	Ursus maritimus	Polar bears have black skin under their white fur to better absorb the sun’s rays.
Sun Bear	Helarctos malayanus	The sun bear is the smallest of the bear species and has a distinct crescent-shaped chest patch.
Blackbuck	Antilope cervicapra	The blackbuck can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph), making it one of the fastest antelopes.
Black Rat	Rattus rattus	Black rats are incredibly agile and are known to spread various diseases.
Buffalo	Bubalus bubalis	Water buffaloes are critical to the agriculture of several countries in Asia, providing milk and labor.
Bulbul	Pycnonotidae	Bulbuls are known for their beautiful singing and are highly territorial.
Butterfly	Rhopalocera	Butterflies taste with their feet.
Cat	Felis catus	Cats have a specialized collarbone that allows them to always land on their feet when they fall.
Cheetah	Acinonyx jubatus	The cheetah is the fastest land animal, capable of reaching speeds up to 75 mph in short bursts.
Chinkara	Gazella bennettii	Chinkaras can survive without water for long periods, getting moisture from plants.
Cobra	Naja	Cobras are famous for their threatening hood and their ability to “stand up” when threatened.
Cockroach	Blattodea	Cockroaches can live for several weeks without their head, dying eventually from starvation.
Cow	Bos taurus	Cows have a nearly 360-degree panoramic vision and can detect odors up to six miles away.
Crocodile	Crocodylus palustris	Crocodiles have the strongest bite of any animal in the world.
Deer	Cervidae	Deer shed and regrow their antlers every year.
Dog	Canis lupus familiaris	Dogs have a sense of smell that’s between 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than humans.
Dolphin	Cetacea	Dolphins are highly intelligent and capable of using tools, such as using sea sponges to protect their snouts while foraging.
Eagle	Accipitridae	Eagles have excellent eyesight, enabling them to spot prey from several kilometers away.
Elephant	Elephantidae	Elephants can communicate using sounds that are below the frequency humans can hear.
Fish	Vertebrata	Fish were the first vertebrate animals to evolve.
Red Fox	Vulpes vulpes	The red fox has the widest distribution of any terrestrial carnivore.
Gharial	Gavialis gangeticus	The gharial has the longest jaw of any crocodile species, filled with interlocking, razor-sharp teeth.
Giraffe	Giraffa camelopardalis	Giraffes have the same number of vertebrae in their necks as humans—seven.
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	Great horned owls are known for their deep hooting and are highly adaptable birds.
Hen	Gallus gallus domesticus	Hens are known to dream during REM sleep, similar to humans.
Hippopotamus	Hippopotamus amphibius	Hippos secrete a natural sunscreen that is red-colored, known as “blood sweat.”
Horse	Equus caballus	Horses have the largest eyes of any land mammal.
House Crow	Corvus splendens	House crows are highly intelligent, known to use tools and solve complex problems.
Housefly	Musca domestica	Houseflies taste with their feet, which are 10 million times more sensitive to sugar than the human tongue.
House Mouse	Mus musculus	House mice are known for their ability to adapt and survive in almost any environment.
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	House sparrows are among the most widely distributed bird species in the world.
House Wall Lizard	Hemidactylus flaviviridis	These lizards can detach their tails to escape predators, a process known as autotomy.
Indian Cobra	Naja naja	The Indian cobra’s venom is a potent neurotoxin, capable of causing respiratory failure and death.
Parrot	Psittaciformes	Parrots are known for their ability to mimic human speech and sounds from their environment.
Indian Python	Python molurus	Indian pythons are excellent swimmers and can be submerged for up to 30 minutes before surfacing for air.
Kashmiri Stag or Hangul	Cervus canadensis hanglu	The Hangul is critically endangered, found only in the Kashmir region of India.
King Cobra	Ophiophagus hannah	The king cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake, capable of reaching lengths up to 18 feet.
Koel	Eudynamys scolopaceus	Koels are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other bird species.
Leopard or Panther	Panthera pardus	Leopards are incredibly strong and can carry prey up to three times their weight up into a tree.
Monkey	Simiiformes	Monkeys are highly social animals with complex relationships and communication methods.
Mosquito	Culicidae	Mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other animal due to the diseases they spread.
Lion	Panthera leo	Lions are the only cats that live in groups, known as prides.
Lizard	Squamata	Many lizard species can detach and regrow their tails to escape predators.
Nilgai	Boselaphus tragocamelus	Nilgai are the largest antelope in Asia and are known for their distinctive blue-grey color.
Peacock	Pavo cristatus	Peacocks are known for their colorful tail feathers, which they use in mating displays to attract females.
Pig	Sus scrofa	Pigs are among the smartest domesticated animals and are capable of solving complex problems.
Prawn	Dendrobranchiata	Prawns have a rapid growth rate and are a significant source of protein for humans.
Rabbit	Oryctolagus cuniculus	Rabbits have a unique digestive system, allowing them to process fiber and nutrients efficiently.
Rat	Rodentia	Rats have an excellent memory and can remember a navigation route once they have learned it.
Rattle Snake	Crotalinae	The rattle on a rattlesnake’s tail is made of keratin and is used as a warning signal to predators.
Rhesus Monkey	Macaca mulatta	Rhesus monkeys are known for their adaptability to various environments and are used in biomedical research.
Rhinoceros	Rhinoceros unicornis	Rhinoceros horns are made of keratin, the same material as human hair and nails.
Sheep	Ovis aries	Sheep have a field of vision of around 300 degrees, allowing them to see behind themselves without turning.
Siberian Crane	Grus leucogeranus	Siberian cranes are one of the world’s most critically endangered crane species, migrating over 10,000 km annually.
Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Sparrows are highly adaptable and can live in various environments, including urban areas.
Spider	Araneae	Spiders are capable of producing silk that is stronger than steel of the same thickness.
Starfish	Asteroidea	Starfish can regenerate lost arms and, in some cases, an entire new starfish from a single arm segment.
Tiger	Panthera tigris	Tigers are the largest wild cats in the world and are known for their powerful build and fearsome reputation.
Tiger Snake	Notechis scutatus	Tiger snakes are highly venomous and found in southern regions of Australia.
Wild Ass	Equus africanus asinus	The wild ass is an ancestor of the domestic donkey, known for its endurance and speed.
Wild Boar	Sus scrofa	Wild boars are highly adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats, including forests and agricultural areas.
Wolf	Canis lupus	Wolves have complex social structures known as packs, led by alpha males and females.
Zebra	Equus quagga	Zebras have unique stripe patterns, which are believed to help deter flies and provide camouflage.
Earthworm	Lumbricus	Earthworms have no lungs; they breathe through their skin.
Grasshopper	Caelifera	Grasshoppers can jump up to 20 times their body length.
Honey Bee	Apis	Honey bees communicate through a dance, which can indicate the direction and distance to a food source.
Pigeon	Columba livia	Pigeons can recognize themselves in a mirror, a sign of self-awareness.
Snake	Serpentes	Snakes can swallow prey much larger than their head thanks to their flexible jaws.

Related Check:

• What is Taxonomy?
• Taxonomic Hierarchy In Biological Classification
• Birds Name In English/ Hindi
• Classification Of Animals
• Classification of Animal Kingdom
• Classification of Plants and Animal

Scientific Names of Animals and Birds – FAQs

What is the Scientific Name of Animals?

Scientific name of animal is Animalia. The scientific name of an animal, commonly known as its Binomial Nomenclature, is a widely used, formal system of naming an animal. There are two names in the nomenclature, both of which have Latin roots.

What is trinomen?

A trinomen refers to the three-part name assigned to animals, distinct from the genus and species names, typically used to specify a subspecies. An illustration of this is seen in the trinomen for the Arctic wolf subspecies of the grey wolf, which is Canis lupus arctos.

Do all Animals have a Scientific Name?

Yes, a two-part scientific name is given to each identified species on earth. This technique is known as “binomial nomenclature.” These names are significant because they enable clear communication about animal species among people all across the world.

Who gave Animals Scientific Names?

The scientific name system known as Latin binomial nomenclature was developed by Swedish scientist and physician Carl Linnaeus. This system essentially functions as a system for classifying and organizing plant and animal species.

Give Examples of the Scientific name of Some Common Animals.

Following are the scientific names of some common animals:

• Cow: Bos taurus
• Cockroach: Blattodea
• Cat: Felis catus
• Goat: Capra aegagrus hircus

How Animals are given Scientific Names?

All identified and recorded animals and living things are given a two-part scientific name that is unique to that species. The genus comes first in the format of an animal’s scientific name, which is then followed by a species-specific suffix. This is how all living animals are given scientific names.