Editing Genus (section)

=== Use in nomenclature ===
{{Main|Binomial nomenclature|Taxonomy (biology)|Author citation (zoology)|Author citation (botany)}}
The rules for the [[scientific name]]s of [[organism]]s are laid down in the [[Nomenclature Codes|nomenclature codes]], which allow each species a single unique name that, for [[animal]]s (including [[protist]]s), [[plant]]s (also including [[algae]] and [[Fungus|fungi]]) and [[prokaryote]]s ([[bacteria]] and [[archaea]]), is [[Latin]] and binomial in form; this contrasts with [[common name|common or vernacular names]], which are non-standardized, can be non-unique, and typically also vary by country and language of usage.

Except for [[Virus classification|viruses]], the standard format for a [[species]] name comprises the generic name, indicating the genus to which the species belongs, followed by the specific epithet, which (within that genus) is unique to the species. For example, the [[gray wolf]]'s scientific name is {{nowrap|''{{lang|la|Canis lupus}}'',}} with ''[[Canis]]'' ([[Latin]] for 'dog') being the generic name shared by the wolf's close relatives and {{lang|la|lupus}} (Latin for 'wolf') being the specific name particular to the wolf. A botanical example would be ''[[Hibiscus arnottianus]]'', a particular species of the genus ''[[Hibiscus]]'' native to Hawaii. The specific name is written in lower-case and may be followed by [[subspecies]] names in [[zoology]] or a variety of [[infraspecific name]]s in [[botany]].

When the generic name is already known from context, it may be shortened to its initial letter, for example, ''C. lupus'' in place of ''Canis lupus''. Where species are further subdivided, the generic name (or its abbreviated form) still forms the leading portion of the scientific name, for example, {{nowrap|''{{lang|la|Canis lupus lupus}}''}} for the [[Eurasian wolf]] subspecies, or as a botanical example, {{nowrap|''{{lang|la|Hibiscus arnottianus}}'' ssp. ''{{lang|la|immaculatus}}''}}. Also, as visible in the above examples, the Latinised portions of the scientific names of genera and their included species (and infraspecies, where applicable) are, by convention, written in [[Italic type|italics]].

The scientific names of [[virus]] species are descriptive, not binomial in form, and may or may not incorporate an indication of their containing genus; for example, the virus species "[[Salmonid herpesvirus 1]]", "[[Salmonid herpesvirus 2]]" and "[[Salmonid herpesvirus 3]]" are all within the genus ''[[Salmonivirus]]''; however, the genus to which the species with the formal names "[[Everglades virus]]" and "[[Ross River virus]]" are assigned is ''[[Alphavirus]]''.

As with scientific names at other ranks, in all groups other than viruses, names of genera may be cited with their authorities, typically in the form "author, year" in zoology, and "standard abbreviated author name" in botany. Thus in the examples above, the genus ''Canis'' would be cited in full as "''Canis'' Linnaeus, 1758" (zoological usage), while ''Hibiscus'', also first established by [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] but in 1753, is simply "''Hibiscus'' L." (botanical usage).