diff --git a/api/src/services/itis-service.ts b/api/src/services/itis-service.ts
index dbd00c53..6511d32f 100644
--- a/api/src/services/itis-service.ts
+++ b/api/src/services/itis-service.ts
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@ export class ItisService {
   _sanitizeItisData = (data: ItisSolrSearchResponse[]): TaxonSearchResult[] => {
     return data.map((item: ItisSolrSearchResponse) => {
       const englishNames = item.commonNames?.filter((name) => name.split('$')[2] === 'English');
-      const commonNames = englishNames && englishNames.map((name) => name.split('$')[1])
+      const commonNames = englishNames?.map((name) => name.split('$')[1]);
 
       return {
         tsn: Number(item.tsn),
-        commonNames: commonNames,
+        commonNames: commonNames ?? [],
         scientificName: item.scientificName,
         rank: item.rank,
         kingdom: item.kingdom
diff --git a/api/src/utils/itis.test.ts b/api/src/utils/itis.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0ffdd02f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/src/utils/itis.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+// TODO
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/src/utils/itis.ts b/api/src/utils/itis.ts
index c67d9ebd..bb65dbd9 100644
--- a/api/src/utils/itis.ts
+++ b/api/src/utils/itis.ts
@@ -1,32 +1,36 @@
 import { TaxonSearchResult } from '../services/taxonomy-service';
 
 /**
- * Sorts the ITIS response such that exact matches are at the start of the array of matching taxa
+ * Sorts the ITIS response by how strongly records match the search terms
  *
  * @param {ItisSolrSearchResponse[]} data
+ * @param {string[]} searchTerms
  * @memberof ItisService
  */
 export const sortExactMatches = (data: TaxonSearchResult[], searchTerms: string[]): TaxonSearchResult[] => {
   const searchTermsLower = searchTerms.map((item) => item.toLowerCase());
 
-  // Prioritize taxa where any word in the scientific or common name matches any of the search terms
+  // Prioritize taxa where any word in the scientific or common name matches ANY of the search terms
   // eg. ['Black', 'bear'] -> "Black" matches on "Black widow"
-  const contains = customSortContainsAnyMatchingSearchTerm(data, searchTermsLower);
-
-  // Prioritize records where any word in the scientific or common name matches the JOINED search terms
-  const someEquals = customSortContainsSearchTermsJoined(contains, searchTermsLower);
+  const containsAnyMatch = customSortContainsAnyMatchingSearchTerm(data, searchTermsLower);
 
   // Prioritize taxa where either the scientific name or any common name CONTAINS the search terms joined
   // eg. ['Black', 'bear'] -> "Black bear" matches on "American black bear"
-  const exactEquals = customSortContainsSearchTermsJoined(someEquals, searchTermsLower);
+  const containsAnyMatchJoined = customSortContainsSearchTermsJoinedExact(containsAnyMatch, searchTermsLower);
+
+  // Prioritize taxa where either the scientific name or any common name is EXACTLY EQUAL to the search terms joined
+  // eg. ['Wolf'] -> "Wolf" is prioritized over "Forest Wolf"
+  const exactlyEquals = customSortEqualsSearchTermsExact(containsAnyMatchJoined, searchTermsLower);
 
-  return exactEquals;
+  return exactlyEquals;
 };
 
 /**
- * Sorts the ITIS response such that exact matches with search terms are first
+ * Sorts the ITIS response to prioritize records where any word in the scientific or
+ * common name matches ANY of the search terms
  *
  * @param {ItisSolrSearchResponse[]} data
+ * @param {string[]} searchTerms
  * @memberof ItisService
  */
 export const customSortContainsAnyMatchingSearchTerm = (
@@ -48,8 +52,7 @@ export const customSortContainsAnyMatchingSearchTerm = (
   };
 
   const checkForMatch = (item: TaxonSearchResult, searchTerms: string[]) => {
-    const commonNameWords = item.commonNames.flatMap((name: string) => name.toLowerCase().split(/\s+/)) ?? [];
-
+    const commonNameWords = item.commonNames?.flatMap((name: string) => name.toLowerCase().split(/\s+/));
     const scientificNameWords = item.scientificName.toLowerCase().split(/\s+/);
 
     // Check if any word in commonNames or scientificName matches any word in searchTerms
@@ -62,16 +65,17 @@ export const customSortContainsAnyMatchingSearchTerm = (
 };
 
 /**
- * Sorts the ITIS response such that exact matches with search terms are first
+ * Sorts the ITIS response to prioritize records where either the scientific name or
+ * any common name CONTAINS the search terms joined
  *
  * @param {ItisSolrSearchResponse[]} data
+ * @param {string[]} searchTerms
  * @memberof ItisService
  */
-export const customSortContainsSearchTermsJoined = (
+export const customSortContainsSearchTermsJoinedExact = (
   data: TaxonSearchResult[],
   searchTerms: string[]
 ): TaxonSearchResult[] => {
-  // Custom sorting function
   const customSort = (a: TaxonSearchResult, b: TaxonSearchResult) => {
     const aInReference = checkForMatch(a, searchTerms);
     const bInReference = checkForMatch(b, searchTerms);
@@ -79,32 +83,35 @@ export const customSortContainsSearchTermsJoined = (
     if (aInReference && !bInReference) {
       return -1; // Place items from searchTerms before other items
     } else if (!aInReference && bInReference) {
-      return 1; // Place other items after items from searchTerms
+      return 0; // Maintain the original order
     } else {
-      return 0; // Maintain the original order if both are from searchTerms or both are not
+      return 0; // Maintain the original order
     }
   };
 
   // Function to check if an item is a match with search terms
   const checkForMatch = (item: TaxonSearchResult, searchTerms: string[]) => {
-    const commonNameWords = item.commonNames?.map((name) => name.toLowerCase());
-
-    // Lowercase scientificName and split into individual words
-    const scientificNameWords = item.scientificName.toLowerCase().split(/\s+/);
+    const commonNameWords = item.commonNames?.map((name: string) => name.toLowerCase());
+    const scientificNameWord = item.scientificName.toLowerCase();
 
-    return commonNameWords?.includes(searchTerms.join(' ')) || scientificNameWords.includes(searchTerms.join(' '));
+    // Add a space such that "Black bear" matches "American black bear" and not "Black Bearded"
+    return (
+      scientificNameWord === searchTerms.join(' ') ||
+      commonNameWords?.some((name) => `${name}${' '}`.includes(`${searchTerms.join(' ')}${' '}`))
+    );
   };
 
   return data.sort(customSort);
 };
 
 /**
- * Sorts the ITIS response such that exact matches with search terms are first
+ * Sorts the ITIS response to prioritize taxa where either the scientific name or
+ * any common name is EXACTLY EQUAL to the search terms joined
  *
  * @param {ItisSolrSearchResponse[]} data
  * @memberof ItisService
  */
-export const customSortContainsSearchTermsJoined = (
+export const customSortEqualsSearchTermsExact = (
   data: TaxonSearchResult[],
   searchTerms: string[]
 ): TaxonSearchResult[] => {
@@ -123,15 +130,10 @@ export const customSortContainsSearchTermsJoined = (
 
   // Function to check if an item is a match with search terms
   const checkForMatch = (item: TaxonSearchResult, searchTerms: string[]) => {
-    const commonNameWords = item.commonNames.map((name: string) => name.toLowerCase());
-
+    const commonNameWords = item.commonNames?.map((name: string) => name.toLowerCase());
     const scientificNameWord = item.scientificName.toLowerCase();
 
-    // Add a space such that "Black bear" matches "American black bear" and not "Black Bearded"
-    return (
-      scientificNameWord === searchTerms.join(' ') ||
-      commonNameWords?.some((name) => `${name}${' '}`.includes(`${searchTerms.join(' ')}${' '}`))
-    );
+    return scientificNameWord === searchTerms.join(' ') || commonNameWords?.includes(searchTerms.join(' '));
   };
 
   return data.sort(customSort);