types:
Adapid,
Adapid group
extinct small mostly diurnal lower primates that fed on leaves and fruit; abundant in North America and Europe 30 to 50 million years ago; their descendents probably include the lemurs; some authorities consider them ancestral to anthropoids but others consider them only cousins
Omomyid,
Omomyid group
extinct tiny nocturnal lower primates that fed on fruit and insects; abundant in North America and Europe 30 to 50 million years ago; probably gave rise to the tarsiers; some authorities consider them ancestral to anthropoids but others consider them only cousins
kingdom
the second highest taxonomic group into which organisms are grouped; one of five biological categories: Monera or Protoctista or Plantae or Fungi or Animalia
subkingdom
(biology) a taxonomic group comprising a major division of a kingdom
variety
(biology) a taxonomic category consisting of members of a species that differ from others of the same species in minor but heritable characteristics
phylum
(biology) the major taxonomic group of animals and plants; contains classes
subphylum
(biology) a taxonomic group ranking between a phylum and a class
superphylum
(biology) a taxonomic group ranking between a phylum and below a class or subclass
class
(biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more orders
subclass
(biology) a taxonomic category below a class and above an order
superclass
(biology) a taxonomic class below a phylum and above a class
order
(biology) taxonomic group containing one or more families
suborder
(biology) taxonomic group that is a subdivision of an order
superorder
(biology) a taxonomic group ranking above an order and below a class or subclass
family
(biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera
superfamily
(biology) a taxonomic group ranking below an order but above a family
subfamily
(biology) a taxonomic category below a family
tribe
(biology) a taxonomic category between a genus and a subfamily
genus
(biology) taxonomic group containing one or more species
subgenus
(biology) taxonomic group between a genus and a species
monotype
(biology) a taxonomic group with a single member (a single species or genus)
species
(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
race,
subspecies
(biology) a taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species
type
(biology) the taxonomic group whose characteristics are used to define the next higher taxon
Phycomycetes,
Phycomycetes group
a large and probably unnatural group of fungi and funguslike organisms comprising the Mastigomycota (including the Oomycetes) and Zygomycota subdivisions of the division Eumycota; a category not used in all systems
domain
(biology) the taxonomic category above the kingdom; the three domains are Eukarya, Archaea, and Bacteria
form genus
an artificial taxonomic category established on the basis of morphological resemblance for organisms of obscure true relationships especially fossil forms
Filoviridae
a family of threadlike RNA viruses that cause diseases in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys and chimpanzees)
Monera,
Prokayotae,
kingdom Monera,
kingdom Prokaryotae
prokaryotic bacteria and blue-green algae and various primitive pathogens; because of lack of consensus on how to divide the organisms into phyla informal names are used for the major divisions
Protoctista,
kingdom Protoctista
in most modern classifications, replacement for the Protista; includes: Protozoa; Euglenophyta; Chlorophyta; Cryptophyta; Heterokontophyta; Rhodophyta; unicellular protists and their descendant multicellular organisms: regarded as distinct from plants and animals
Protozoa,
phylum Protozoa
in some classifications considered a superphylum or a subkingdom; comprises flagellates; ciliates; sporozoans; amoebas; foraminifers
Sarcodina,
class Sarcodina
characterized by the formation of pseudopods for locomotion and taking food: Actinopoda; Rhizopoda
Infusoria,
subclass Infusoria
in some recent classifications, coextensive with the Ciliata: minute organisms found in decomposing infusions of organic matter
Chlorophyceae,
class Chlorophyceae
algae distinguished chiefly by having flagella and a clear green color, their chlorophyll being masked little if at all by other pigments
Sporozoa,
class Sporozoa
strictly parasitic protozoans that are usually immobile; includes plasmodia and coccidia and piroplasms and malaria parasites
Agnatha,
superclass Agnatha
superclass of eel-shaped chordates lacking jaws and pelvic fins: lampreys; hagfishes; some extinct forms
bird family
a family of warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
amphibia,
class Amphibia
the class of vertebrates that live on land but breed in water; frogs; toads; newts; salamanders; caecilians
Reptilia,
class Reptilia
class of cold-blooded air-breathing vertebrates with completely ossified skeleton and a body usually covered with scales or horny plates; once the dominant land animals
Archosauria,
subclass Archosauria
a large subclass of diapsid reptiles including: crocodiles; alligators; dinosaurs; pterosaurs; plesiosaurs; ichthyosaurs; thecodonts
Arachnida,
class Arachnida
a large class of arthropods including spiders and ticks and scorpions and daddy longlegs; have four pairs of walking legs and no wings
superclass Myriapoda
used in some classifications to encompass the millipedes (Diplopoda) and centipedes (Chilopoda); formerly a large taxon including also the Pauropoda and Symphyla; the term Myriapoda now usually used synonymously with Diplopoda and limited to the millipedes
Tardigrada,
class Tardigrada
in some classifications considered a separate phylum: microscopic arachnid-like invertebrates living in water or damp moss having 4 pairs of legs and instead of a mouth a pair of stylets or needlelike piercing organs connected with the pharynx
Chilopoda,
class Chilopoda
arthropods having the trunk composed of numerous somites each bearing one pair of legs: centipedes
Pantotheria,
subclass Pantotheria
generalized extinct mammals widespread during the Jurassic; commonly conceded to be ancestral to marsupial and placental mammals
Parazoa,
subkingdom Parazoa
multicellular organisms having less-specialized cells than in the Metazoa; comprises the single phylum Porifera
Metazoa,
subkingdom Metazoa
multicellular animals having cells differentiated into tissues and organs and usually a digestive cavity and nervous system
Hydrozoa,
class Hydrozoa
coelenterates typically having alternation of generations; hydroid phase is usually colonial giving rise to the medusoid phase by budding: hydras and jellyfishes
Nuda,
class Nuda
ctenophores lacking tentacles; comprises one genus: beroe
Crustacea,
class Crustacea
class of mandibulate arthropods including: lobsters; crabs; shrimps; woodlice; barnacles; decapods; water fleas
Malacostraca,
subclass Malacostraca
largest subclass of Crustacea including most of the well-known marine, freshwater, and terrestrial crustaceans: crabs; lobsters; shrimps; sow bugs; beach flies
Onychophora,
class Onychophora
enigmatic small elongated wormlike terrestrial invertebrates of damp dark habitats in warm regions; distinct from the phylum Annelida; resemble slugs with legs and are sometimes described as the missing link between arthropods and annelids
Cycliophora,
phylum Cycliophora
tiny marine organisms each the size of a period found in great numbers on lobsters' lips; identified tentatively in 1995 as a new phylum or as possible link between Entoprocta and Ectoprocta
Dipnoi,
subclass Dipnoi
bony fishes of the southern hemisphere that breathe by a modified air bladder as well as gills; sometimes classified as an order of Crossopterygii
Latinae
a subfamily of the family Centropomidae
form family
(biology) an artificial taxonomic category for organisms of which the true relationships are obscure
type genus
(biology) genus from which the name of a family or subfamily is formed; it is not necessarily the most representative genus but often the largest or best known or earliest described
form genus
(biology) an artificial taxonomic category for organisms of which the true relationships are obscure
endangered species
a species whose numbers are so small that the species is at risk of extinction
type species
(biology) the species that best exemplifies the essential characteristics of the genus to which it belongs
division
(botany) taxonomic unit of plants corresponding to a phylum
dicot genus,
magnoliopsid genus
genus of flowering plants having two cotyledons (embryonic leaves) in the seed which usually appear at germination
Gymnospermae,
Gymnospermophyta,
class Gymnospermae,
division Gymnospermophyta
plants having naked seeds not enclosed in an ovary; in some systems considered a class (Gymnospermae) and in others a division (Gymnospermophyta); comprises three subdivisions (or classes): Cycadophytina (class Cycadopsida) and Gnetophytina (class Gnetopsida) and Coniferophytina (class Coniferopsida); in some classifications the Coniferophytina are divided into three groups: Pinophytina (class Pinopsida) and Ginkgophytina (class Ginkgopsida) and Taxophytina (class Taxopsida)
Coniferophyta,
Coniferophytina,
Coniferopsida,
class Coniferopsida,
subdivision Coniferophytina
cone-bearing gymnosperms dating from the Carboniferous period; most are substantial trees; includes the classes Pinopsida (subdivision Pinophytina) and Ginkgopsida (subdivision Ginkgophytina) and Taxopsida (subdivision Taxophytina) which in turn include the surviving orders Coniferales and Taxales (yews) and sometimes Ginkgoales as well as extinct orders such as Cordaitales (of the Carboniferous and Permian)
Magnoliidae,
ranalian complex,
subclass Magnoliidae
a group of families of trees and shrubs and herbs having well-developed perianths and apocarpous ovaries and generally regarded as the most primitive extant flowering plants; contains 36 families including Magnoliaceae and Ranunculaceae; sometimes classified as a superorder
Alismatidae,
subclass Alismatidae
one of four subclasses or superorders of Monocotyledones; comprises about 500 species in 14 families of aquatic and semiaquatic herbs
Arecidae,
subclass Arecidae
one of four subclasses or superorder of Monocotyledones; comprises about 6400 species in 5 families of trees and shrubs and terrestrial herbs and a few free-floating aquatics including: Palmae; Araceae; Pandanaceae and Lemnaceae
Commelinidae,
subclass Commelinidae
one of four subclasses or superorders of Monocotyledones; comprises about 19,000 species in 25 families of mostly terrestrial herbs especially of moist places including: Cyperaceae; Gramineae; Bromeliaceae; and Zingiberaceae
Caryophyllidae,
subclass Caryophyllidae
a group of families of mostly flowers having basal or central placentation and trinucleate pollen (binucleate pollen is commoner in flowering plants); contains 14 families including: Caryophyllaceae (carnations and pinks); Aizoaceae; Amaranthaceae; Batidaceae; Chenopodiaceae; Cactaceae (order Opuntiales); Nyctaginaceae; Phytolaccaceae; corresponds approximately to order Caryophyllales; sometimes classified as a superorder
Asteridae,
subclass Asteridae
a group of mostly sympetalous herbs and some trees and shrubs mostly with 2 fused carpels; contains 43 families including Campanulales; Solanaceae; Scrophulariaceae; Labiatae; Verbenaceae; Rubiaceae; Compositae; sometimes classified as a superorder
Rosidae,
subclass Rosidae
a group of trees and shrubs and herbs mostly with polypetalous flowers; contains 108 families including Rosaceae; Crassulaceae; Myrtaceae; Melastomaceae; Euphorbiaceae; Umbelliferae
Hamamelidae,
subclass Hamamelidae
a group of chiefly woody plants considered among the most primitive of angiosperms; perianth poorly developed or lacking; flowers often unisexual and often in catkins and often wind pollinated; contains 23 families including the Betulaceae and Fagaceae (includes the Amentiferae); sometimes classified as a superorder
Dilleniidae,
subclass Dilleniidae
a group of families of more or less advanced trees and shrubs and herbs having either polypetalous or gamopetalous corollas and often with ovules attached to the walls of the ovary; contains 69 families including Ericaceae and Cruciferae and Malvaceae; sometimes classified as a superorder
Liliidae,
subclass Liliidae
one of four subclasses or superorders of Monocotyledones; comprises 17 families including: Liliaceae; Alliaceae; Amaryllidaceae; Iridaceae; Orchidaceae; Trilliaceae
Oomycetes,
class Oomycetes
nonphotosynthetic fungi that resemble algae and that reproduce by forming oospores; sometimes classified as protoctists
Homobasidiomycetes,
subclass Homobasidiomycetes
category used in some classification systems for various basidiomycetous fungi including e.g. mushrooms and puffballs which are usually placed in the classes Gasteromycetes and Hymenomycetes
cultivar
a variety of a plant developed from a natural species and maintained under cultivation