Final answer:
The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) sets the naming conventions for animals, which include the use of binomial nomenclature and the standardized capitalization and italicization of genus and species names.
Step-by-step explanation:
Naming Conventions for Animals
The organization responsible for determining the naming conventions for animals is the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). This organization establishes rules for the scientific naming of animals, which is essential for clear communication among scientists worldwide. One fundamental rule is the use of binomial nomenclature, the two-part scientific naming system developed by Carl Linnaeus. This system comprises the genus name (capitalized) and the species name (lowercase), both of which are italicized when written, such as Canis lupus for a wolf. This naming structure is universal and brings clarity to the identification of species. Organisms can also have subspecies indicated by a third name, as in Canis lupus familiaris for the domestic dog.
In the classification of the domestic dog, for example, the taxonomic hierarchy includes domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The rule for the capitalization of taxon names is such that each name at the domain down to the family level is capitalized, while the species and subspecies names are lowercase. Another important aspect of naming is that it simplifies the complexity of biological diversity by grouping organisms with shared characteristics, although it is essential to note that such classifications can sometimes obscure the unique features of individual organisms.