It was developed by Carl Linnaeus and uses two Latin or Latinized words to uniquely identify each species.

* The first part is the genus to which the species belongs.

* The second part is the specific epithet, which is unique to that species within the genus.

For example, the scientific name for humans is *Homo sapiens*.

* *Homo* is the genus, and

* *sapiens* is the specific epithet.

Here are some other examples:

* Canis lupus (wolf)

* Felis catus (domestic cat)

* Quercus robur (English oak)