Rules For Capitalization Questions Long
In general, the first letter of a specific type of animal or plant should not be capitalized unless it is part of the proper noun or scientific name.
When referring to animals or plants in a general sense, such as "dog" or "tree," the first letter should be in lowercase. However, if you are referring to a specific breed or species, such as "Golden Retriever" or "Oak Tree," then the first letter should be capitalized.
Similarly, when using the scientific name of an animal or plant, which is usually in Latin, the first letter of the genus (the first part of the name) should be capitalized, while the species (the second part of the name) should be in lowercase. For example, Homo sapiens (human) or Canis lupus (wolf).
It is important to note that some common names of animals or plants may be capitalized due to specific style guides or conventions. For instance, the names of certain animals like "Elephant" or "Giraffe" are often capitalized, even though they are not proper nouns or scientific names. This is mainly a matter of style and can vary depending on the context or publication.
In summary, unless it is part of a proper noun, scientific name, or specific style convention, the first letter of a specific type of animal or plant should generally be in lowercase.