What do the terms Sus scrofa and Sus vittatus refer to?

• A. They are breeds of cattle
• B. They are non-scientific common names for humans
• C. They are subspecies of horses
• D. They are scientific names for European and Indian pigs

Answer: (D)

In biology, animals are identified by two-part Latin names (binomial nomenclature). The genus Sus groups all pigs. Sus scrofa is the species name used for the wild boar and, through domestication, many domestic pigs as well, commonly associated with European wild boar and related populations. Sus vittatus has appeared in taxonomic use to refer to Indian pig populations in some classifications. Taken together, these terms are scientific names used to refer to pig populations from Europe and India, which is why the best answer identifies them as scientific names for European and Indian pigs.