Why kids – Fun and facts about animals and history

American alligator – (HERP-alligator) See facts

Name of animal-plant: American alligator

Species name: Alligator mississippiensis

Animal type: HERP

Subcategory: alligator

 

Fact:

All animals and plants are given a species name based on a technical term in biological taxnomy. The species name consists of two words and is based on Latin.

The first part of the name identifies the genus to which the species belongs and  the second part identifies the species within the genus. In this animals case it is: Alligator mississippiensis