Dictionary of Biological Psychology
Taxonomy is a system for organizing biological categories or taxa (singular, TAXON). The method used to name and classify living organisms was provided by Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1778), a Swedish naturalist, in his book Systema Naturae (1735). His system—the Linnaean system—is a binomial classification (each species has two names, which are in Latin) though this is arrived at through a hierarchical sequence involving the following (with the classification for human beings given):
Further subdivision using the terms sub-, super-and infra- may also be used to further group or divide levels within this classification. Groups of animals are defined by traits and important characteristics that are shared by all members of the group but not by others. A common evolutionary lineage should also be present and, increasingly, biochemical and genetic markers are used to identify members of particular species. It is important to note that this classification is an abstraction: it does not occur naturally and was developed in order to allow classification and delineation of species to take place. The only level of the classification that can be thought to have ‘natural’ meaning is the binomial species name, which identifies an individual species, discriminating it from all others.
See also: evolution; clade; rat
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