Scientific names

I'd appreciate some clarification on the use of abbreviations and italicization of scientific names.

Take Cynops ensicauda popei, for example.

I understand that this is correct:

C. ensicauda popei (with a space between "C." and "ensicauda")

But which of these are correct?

1) C.e.p
2) C. e. p.
3) C. e. popei
4) C.e. popei
5) C.e.popei

Also, I understand that species names are italicized, but how about when just the genus is mentioned? Cynops, for example.

#3 is correct. However there is all kinds of unofficial shorthand that gets thrown around....

Ed

None of those mentioned alternatives (1-5) are correct if mentioned alone. But alternative number 3 is the one sort of right form if mentioned in the text after the clarifying scientific full name of subspecies of the same species. For example, blaa blaa blaa Cynops ensicauda ensicauda and C. e. popei.

Genus mentioned alone is always italicized as well as the whole binomial species name or trinomial subspecies one.

By the way, my best greetings for everyone and thanks to the founder and "staff" for the splendid site. It was my first message here so far, even though I have followed this great forum from time to time about one year now. I just had to register myself again, since I've forgot my username and password... I'm from Finland... so please forgive my bad and poor english...

(Message edited by Aki_suzuki on August 12, 2005)

I had assumed that both #3 and #4 were correct, at least in terms of the proper use of spacing. Still, I had wanted some clarification on this and also for others here to learn and start using the proper form, because a lot of variations show up on this board, and can leave newbies confused

Aki, welcome to the site! Your English is fine, in fact better even than that of some native speakers that we get here from time to time. I look forward to your future postings. Please don't hesitate