Which is the scientific name for the horse?

• A. Equus caballus
• B. Bos taurus
• C. Ovis aries
• D. Sus scrofa

Answer: (A)

Understanding how scientists name living things helps you remember this: organisms are given a two-part Latin name called a binomial name. The first part is the genus, the second part is the species. For the horse, the genus is Equus and the species is caballus, so the full name is Equus caballus. This two-part name uniquely identifies the domestic horse worldwide, preventing mix-ups with common names that vary by language or region. The other options correspond to different animals: Bos taurus is cattle, Ovis aries is sheep, and Sus scrofa is pig. In binomial nomenclature, the genus is capitalized, the species is lowercase, and the full name is usually written in italics.