A genus, pleural; genera, is a rank in the classification of organisms (sitting between family and species in the pecking order) and the one-word name that we typically use when talking about dinosaurs. Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops are genus names.
A genus name is followed by, and attached to, a second name known as a species epithet (aka specific name or specifier) which comes in particularly handy if a genus contains more than one species. For example, the genus Tyrannosaurus contains the species Tyrannosaurus rex and Tyrannosaurus bataar. This two-part scientific name is known as a binomen.
A genus name is followed by, and attached to, a second name known as a species epithet (aka specific name or specifier) which comes in particularly handy if a genus contains more than one species. For example, the genus Tyrannosaurus contains the species Tyrannosaurus rex and Tyrannosaurus bataar. This two-part scientific name is known as a binomen.
References
Michael J. Benton and David A. T. Harper (2009) "Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record."
