Two, the last article left some ideas rather vague and others completely unanswered. Most scientific names are based on either Latin or Creek or may be a combination of both. Sometimes other languages are incorporated into forming these terms. After the genus has been written it may be referred to later by using only the first letter. Remember that the uppercase rule for genera still applies.
Nomenclature does change and for various reasons.
Most nonvenomous snakes discovered in North America in the early 18th century were assigned to the genus Coluber , Latin for snake. As their relationship to other species were determined, other genera began to appear. The species name for the eastern or chain king snake and its allies started as L. getula , then it was L. getulus , and now it's L. getula , again. The reason for the change, or so I am told, has to do with gender agreement. As a career bachelor, I can appreciate the term gender disagreement all too well.