SCIENTIFIC NAMES
RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
Some arachnids (and other living things) have two names, a common name and a
scientific name. Sometimes the same arachnid has different common names (which
are like nicknames) in different countries or parts of a country, which is confusing.
So scientists created a system of scientific names to make sure that people in
different places would know they were talking about the same living thing.
Wolf Spiders: Mothers on Guard features several kinds of wolf spiders. Below is a
list of their common names in the United States and their scientific names. (Other
common names may be used in different parts of the United States.) Choose one
of the arachnids listed and use its scientific name to find out more about that
arachnid:
• What does its scientific name mean? (A scientific name usually describes
something about the animal.)
• Does it have any special features that make it different from others of its kind?
• Is there anything special about its life cycle that makes it different?
• What is its range, meaning in what parts of the world does it usually live?
Common Name
Scientific Name
( No common name) Trochosa terricola
Brush-legged spider
Schizocosa
Burrowing wolf spider
Geolycosa sp.
Brazilian wolf spider Lycosa erythrognatha
Carolina wolf spider Lycosa carolinensis
Thinlegged wolf spider Pardosa monticola
Spotted wolf spider Pardos amentata
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Wolf Spiders: Mothers on Guard
By Sandra Markle
LB ISBN: 978–0–7613–5040–8
Copyright © 2011 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Lerner Digital™ and Lerner eSource™
are trademarks of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. www.lernerbooks.com