From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Taxonomy, sometimes alpha taxonomy, is the science of describing, categorising and naming organisms, thus giving rise to taxa.

Lilium hybrid "Stargazer"

For a long time the term "taxonomy" was unambiguous, but over time the word "taxonomy" gained several other meanings and thus became confusing. To some extent it is being replaced, in its original (and narrow) meaning, by "alpha taxonomy".

Traditionally there are seven major levels of taxonomy (though alpha taxonomy traditionally focuses more on the specific and infraspecific level): Kingdom, Phylum (for animals) or Division (for plants and fungi), Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.

Another source of confusion is the relationship to systematics. The words "taxonomy" and "systematics" have a similar history and similar meanings: over time these have been used as synonyms, as overlapping or as completely complementary.

• In today's usage, Taxonomy (as a science) deals with finding, describing and naming organisms. This science is supported by institutions holding collections of these organisms, with relevant data, carefully curated: such institutes include Natural History Museums, Herbaria and Botanical Gardens.
• Systematics (as a science) deals with the relationships between taxa, especially at the higher levels. These days systematics is greatly influenced by data derived from DNA from nuclei, mitochondria and chloroplasts. This is sometimes known as molecular systematics which is becoming increasingly more common, perhaps at the expense of traditional taxonomy (Wheeler, 2004).

The species of butterfly called Morpho rhetenor helena

• Evolutionary tree
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System
• Important publications in taxonomy
• Systematics
• Scientific classification
• Taxon

• Wheeler, Q. D. (2004). Taxonomic triage and the poverty of Phylogeny. Phil. Trans. Roy Soc. London, Biology 359: 571-583.

• uBio Taxonomic Name Reconciliation
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System - Generalized N. American server Mexico Server Canada Server
• Tree of Life
• BioLib
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Taxonomy & Informatics An AMNH & NSF Project
• Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: definition- taxonomy Ü
• The Nature of Plant Species - article on a study by University Bloomington scientists
• Aphia: North Sea flora and fauna taxonomic register