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Type: Editorial
Published: 2008-01-01
Page range: 1–2
Abstract views: 24
PDF downloaded: 1

Zoological taxonomy at 250: showcasing species descriptions in the cyber era

Landcare Research, Private Bag 92-170, Auckland, New Zealand
General

Abstract

January 1, 2008 marks the 250th anniversary of the official publication date of Systema Naturae (Linnaeus 1758)
recognized by ICZN (1999). During the last two and a half centuries, Linnaeus (1758)’ system for naming, ranking and
classifying organisms has allowed us to document the pattern of life on Earth, Darwin (1850)’s theory of evolution has
helped us to understand the process how this diversity of life came about, and Hennig (1966)’s phylogenetic
methodology has enabled us reconstruct the tree of life. During the last two decades or so, the internet has dramatically
changed the way we live and work. The rapid advances in bioinformatics have provided taxonomists unprecedented
opportunities to do their research more efficiently and make their findings more accessible. Cybertaxonomy is emerging
as an exciting new branch of taxonomy (Wheeler 2007).

References

  1. Darwin, C.R. (1859) On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in

    the Struggle for Life. John Murray, London.

    Hennig, W. (1966) Phylogenetic Systematics. University of Illinois Press, Urbana.

    ICZN [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (1999) International code of zoological nomenclature.

    Fourth edition. International Trust for zoological Nomenclature, London, 335 pp.

    Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus,

    differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Tomus I. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 828 pp.

    Pyle, R.L., Earle, J.L. & Greene, B.D. (2008) Five new species of the damselfish genus Chromis (Perciformes: Labroidei:

    Pomacentridae) from deep coral reefs in the tropical western Pacific. Zootaxa, 1671, 3–31.

    Wheeler, Q.D. (2007) Invertebrate systematics or spineless taxonomy? Zootaxa, 1668, 11–18.