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Extract from 'Exploring our oceans' MOOC

Deep-sea specimens collected during oceanic research expeditions often turn out to be species which are
completely new to science. These collected specimens are carefully preserved for later analyze ashore.
If they turn out to belong to a previously unknown species, biologists then prepare and publish a formal
description of that new species, comparing it with the other known species of that kind of animal, and
highlighting how the new species is different (and therefore how it can be recognized from other species
by other biologists in the future).
This usually involves examining specimens under a microscope and drawing the details of key body parts
that can be used to tell species apart. It might be surprising to learn that we still draw specimens - but this
is because drawings are usually clearer than photographs, particularly for specimens under the
microscope where the depth of focus can be very narrow (a drawing allows us to show all the features
present, which could not be shown in a single photograph). Sometimes we also need to use an electron
microscope to examine very fine details of body parts.
In addition to examining the "morphology" (form and structure) of specimens, we also usually analyze
some of their genetic code, to compare with other species and explore the "genetic family tree"
(phylogenetics) of that kind of animal. At the moment, we don't sequence the entire genetic code of an
organism to do this; instead we look at variations in particular portions of genetic code that are shared by
all animals - sometimes nicknamed the "barcode of life" - to see how closely they are related to other
species of the same kind of animal.
The formal description of a new species also involves giving it its scientific name. The scientific name of
an animal has two parts: the genus name, and the species name. A genus is a group of closely related
species that share similar features. So if a new species belongs to an already known genus, then it takes
that genus name. But it still needs a new species name.
At the Von Damm Vent Field in the Cayman Trough, there are two new species of shrimps that have
recently been analysed and now formally described. These are a new species of the genus Rimicaris
(Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Alvinocarididae) from hydrothermal vent fields on the Mid-Cayman
Spreading Centre in the Caribbean, and a new species of the genus Lebbeus (Crustacea: Decapoda:
Caridea: Hippolytidae) from the Von Damm Vent Field, in the Caribbean Sea.
So how do we choose a new species name? Species names are derived from Latin and Greek, and
traditionally describe a key feature of the species. For example, the scientific name of the spiny cockle,
which we find around some southwest UK shores, is Acanthocardia aculeata. The genus name,
"Acanthocardia", derives from a Greek word for "spine" (the "Acantho-" part) because the shell is spiny,
and from the Latin word for "heart" (the "-cardia" part) because the two halves of the shell form a shape
like a heart. The species name, "aculeata", comes from the Latin word for "sting", because the spines on
the shell are sharply pointed. Victorian and earlier naturalists, who named many of the common species
found in shallow water, were educated in Latin and Greek and simply described what they saw to name
species.
A species name can also be used to indicate the geographical location where the species is found: for
example Vulcanolepas scotiaensis is a new species of stalked barnacle recently found at deep-sea vents in

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the Scotia Sea of the Antarctic. And a genus or species name can also be used to commemorate a person:
for example Bobmarleya gadensis is a genus and species of worm from deep-sea mud volcanoes in the
Gulf of Cadiz, commemorating reggae singer Bob Marley.
There is a strict rule that those describing a new species cannot name it after themselves, but species
names can be used to commemorate other scientists for their work. For example, the deep-sea brittlestar
Ophiactis tyleri was named after Professor Paul Tyler for his many contributions to deep-sea biology.

Article from University of Southampton, 2014.

Questions:
1.
a)
b)
c)
d)

What is the main concept discussed by the whole text?

Oceanic research
Shrimps and their strange behavior
The identification and description of new species
What the Latin names of deep-sea species mean

2.
a)
b)
c)
d)

What is the main point expressed in the first paragraph?

Careful preservation of specimens from the deep ocean is required
Biologists in the future will be able to differentiate between species
Species comparison enables biologists to highlight differences
New species of animal need to be analyzed and formally described

3.
a)
b)
c)
d)

Which of these stages is not part of the process referred to?

Drawing the specimens
Using an electron microscope to view fine details
Comparing the genetic code
Sequencing the genetic code

4.
a)
b)
c)
d)

What do the scientific names of the two species of shrimp consist of?
A new genus and a new species
An already known genus and a new species
A genus, species and subspecies
A new species name

5. Which of these statements is true about the traditional approach to naming a new species?
a) Derive from Latin or Greek words used by early naturalists to describe similar species

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b) Derive from Latin or Greek words reflecting visible aspects of the species
c) Derive from Latin or Greek words referring to the shape and size of the species
d) Derive from Latin words describing the behavior of the species

6.
a)
b)
c)
d)

Which of these ways is not permitted when naming a new species?

Using the geographical location where it was first discovered
Using the name of the discoverer
Using the name of an eminent scientist in the field
Using the name of a person renowned for their contribution in a field outside science