Natural History: Families

This use of the term "families" is not precise, although most question setters (in my experience) do use it fairly indiscriminately. Most of these groupings are families, but some are at other levels. Where this is the case, I've tried always to say so.

Bearing the above in mind, the form of question that this page addresses is "To what [family] [do or does] the … belong?"

Some commentators (e.g. those appointed in Stockport Quiz League) will insist on the scientific name for the relevant family (or other grouping) being accepted as a correct answer. My candid opinion is that anyone who gives the scientific name as an answer is just showing off, and shouldn't be allowed the points; but if only because it's a good learning opportunity, I've given the scientific names as well.

(For more details on families, genera, etc., see Taxonomy.)

Scientific name for the genus that includes thorntrees and wattles			Acacia
Mollymawks are a genus of			Albatrosses
Order of birds that includes ducks, geese and swans			Anseriformes
Gnu (wildebeest)			Antelope
Snapdragon is the common name for plants of the genus			Antirrhinum
Michaelmas daisy: genus			Aster
Puffin, guillemots (including the razorbill)			Auk
Yellowhammer			Bunting
Delphinium (common name larkspur); clematis	Common (English) name		Buttercup
	Scientific (Latin) name		Ranunculaceae
Alpaca, llama, vicuna, guanaco			Camel
Scientific name for the bellflowers, including the harebell or Scottish bluebell			Campanula
Goldfish, golden orfe			Carp
Saffron: genus			Crocus
Family Corvidae (or corvids): includes the jay, magpie, rook, chough, jackdaw			Crow
Roadrunner			Cuckoo
Carnation, pink, sweet William: genus			Dianthus
Dodo	Common (English) name		Dove or pigeon
	Scientific (Latin) name		Columbidae
Aardvark: order			Edentates
Brambling, crossbill, grosbeak, linnet, serin (genus of eight species, including the canaries)			Finch
Dab			Flounder
Ladies eardrops is a species of			Fuchsia
Bamboo			Grass
Ptarmigan, capercaillie			Grouse
Bittern, egret			Heron
Kookaburra			Kingfisher
Coccinelidae (cock–sin–elli–die): family of insects (the harlequin or multicoloured Asian is an invasive species)			Ladybirds
Aye–aye (strictly speaking, this is a 'superfamily')			Lemur
Asparagus, bluebell, tulip, onion, garlic			Lily
Pennyroyal: genus			Mint
Common name for carnivorous mammals in the family Herpestidae, which includes the meerkat or suricate			Mongooses
Daffodil, jonquil			Narcissus
Watercress: genus			Nasturtiums
Tobacco			Nicotiana
Obsolete (i.e. no longer recognised) order of mammals: includes the elephant, rhinoceros and hippopotamus; name comes from the Greek for 'thick skin'			Pachyderms
Lovebird, budgerigar			Parrot
Gorse (a.k.a. whin or furse)			Pea (Fabaceae)
Quail, partridge, peafowl (peacock and peahen), francolin			Pheasant
Water, tree, rock, meadow and tawny are five of the many species of (genus)			Pipit
Pimpernel			Primrose
Peach, apricot, cherry: genus			Prunus
Moorhen, coot, corncrake			Rails (Rallidae)
Azalea: genus			Rhododendron
Apple, apricot, plum, cherry, peach, pear, raspberry, strawberry, almond			Rose (Rosaceae)
Trout, grayling, char			Salmon
Greenshank			Sandpiper
Hippocampus (genus of fishes)			Seahorse
Golden rod: common name for plants of the genus			Solidago
Chipmunk, marmot			Squirrel
Mynah bird			Starling
Marabou and the adjutant bird (closely–related)			Storks
Common, Arctic, Sooty (family of seabirds)			Tern
Family Turdidae: includes the nightingale, robin, blackbird, redstart and ring ouzel			Thrush
Also the redwing and fieldfare – both winter visitors to Britain (and much of Europe)
Goldcrest, firecrest, chiffchaff, blackcap, whitethroat			Warblers
Marten; badger is the largest member			Weasel
The osier (tree – used in wickerwork) is a type of			Willow
Wryneck (genus Jynx)			Woodpecker

This one, I think, is better asked the other way round:

Common garden flower: genus Lathyrus

Sweet pea

© Haydn Thompson 2017