In biological nomenclature, in the names Mangifera indica (mango), Solanum tuberosum (potato) and Panthera leo (lion), what do the words indica, tuberosum and leo specifically represent?

Introduction / Context:
In taxonomy, every species has a scientific name that follows the system of binomial nomenclature. This system uses two parts: a generic name and a specific epithet. Many exam questions ask you to recognise which part of the name each word represents. This question focuses on the second words in the binomials Mangifera indica, Solanum tuberosum and Panthera leo and asks what they represent in the naming system.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Examples of scientific names are given: Mangifera indica, Solanum tuberosum and Panthera leo.
• The second words are indica, tuberosum and leo.
• We assume the learner knows that binomial nomenclature uses two Latinised words for each species name.

Concept / Approach:
In binomial nomenclature, the first word is the generic name (genus) and begins with a capital letter. The second word is the specific epithet, written with a small initial letter. Together they form the species name. For example, in Homo sapiens, Homo is the genus and sapiens is the specific epithet. In the given examples, Mangifera, Solanum and Panthera are the genera, while indica, tuberosum and leo are the specific epithets. These epithets often indicate a characteristic, origin or tribute but always form the second part of the scientific name.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that binomial nomenclature was developed by Carl Linnaeus to give each species a two part Latinised name. Step 2: Identify the first word in each example name: Mangifera, Solanum and Panthera. These are the generic names or genera. Step 3: Identify the second words: indica, tuberosum and leo. These are not genera but the second part of each binomial. Step 4: Remember that this second part is called the specific epithet and, together with the genus, it uniquely identifies the species. Step 5: Match this understanding with the option that explicitly refers to the specific epithet forming the second word of the scientific name.

Verification / Alternative check:
Any standard biology textbook on taxonomy shows examples like Solanum tuberosum (potato) and Mangifera indica (mango) and labels the structure as genus plus specific epithet. The book will usually include a table listing the genus and specific epithet separately for several organisms. In that table, indica, tuberosum and leo will appear in the column labelled specific epithet, not in columns such as family, order or common name. This confirms that the correct label for these words is specific epithet.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is wrong because the complete binomial includes both the generic name and the specific epithet, not just the second word. Option B is incorrect because the full taxonomic hierarchy includes many ranks such as kingdom, phylum, class and order, not just one word in the species name. Option C refers to the process of identification, which involves many methods and is not represented by the words indica, tuberosum or leo. Option E is wrong because the common names for these species are mango, potato and lion, not the Latin second words.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent confusion is between the terms species, specific epithet and binomial. Students sometimes think that the second word alone is the species, whereas technically the species name includes both genus and specific epithet together. To avoid this, remember that the binomial has two parts but each part has its own label. The first part is the genus, the second part is the specific epithet and both together specify the species. This mental picture helps you answer questions about scientific names more accurately.

Final Answer:
The words indica, tuberosum and leo represent The specific epithet that forms the second word of the scientific name in binomial nomenclature.