How are dinosaurs named? <!-- paleontology, geology -->
Home >FAQ
USGS Frequently Asked Questions
Question:
How are dinosaurs named?
Answer:
Dinosaurs generally are named after a characteristic body feature, after the
place where they were found, or after a person involved in the discovery. Usually
the name consists of two Greek or Latin words (or combinations); in order, these
are the genus (plural, genera) and the species name. For example, the Greek and
Latin combination (binomen) Tyrannosaurus rex means "king of the tyrant
lizards." Biologists name modern animals exactly the same way. Some examples
include humans (Homo sapiens), domestic dogs (Canis familiaris),
golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), box turtles (Terrapene carolina),
and rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus).
