Final answer:
The scientific name Ursus maritimus indicates that 'Ursus' is the genus, and 'maritimus' is the species within that genus, as per binomial nomenclature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scientific name Ursus maritimus indicates that Ursus is the genus, and maritimus is the species. This is part of the system known as binomial nomenclature, which was developed by Linnaeus. Under this system, every organism is given a two-part name, where the first word is the genus and the second word is the species within that genus. The genus is a group that includes several species that are closely related to each other. For instance, polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) share the same genus, indicating that they are closely related species within the Ursidae family. The species name often reflects a characteristic of the organism, or its habitat, as is the case with 'maritimus' referring to the marine environment where polar bears are primarily found.