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Taxonomy

Fossils are classified according to an international system of the naming of species. The system was originally invented by the Swede Linnaeus and was published in 1758. Since then, the system is used for all botanical and zoological naming, and also for al fossils.

The classification is based on visual, anatomical, fysical, and chemical characteristics. There is also a link to the evolutionary ancestry, living enviroinment and increasingly genetics. Due to recent advances in DNA technology, the present classifications are often completely revised. This is especialy the case within families with still living species. With fossils these techniques are unfortunately not (yet) possible.

The classification is based on the various hierarchical categories. The primary categories in the systematical naming:

Kingdom (Regnum)
-- Division (Phylum)
---- Class (Classis)
------ Order (Ordo)
-------- Family (Familia)
---------- Genus (Genus)
------------ Species (Species)
-------------- Subspecies (Subspecies)

Sometimes subdivisions of the taxonomic classification are used. For example the prefixes sub- and super- (i.e. subfamily).

Every species has to be described seperately in a paper or publication. When the species is described more than once, the first described name has priority. When a species is newly described, a holotype has to be appointed.

The Holotype (type-specimen) is typical for the described species and has all characteristics. This specimen has to be stored in an publically accessible collection (for example a museum). A Lectotype is a type-specimen that was newly defined for species that were described before there were regulations about Holotypes. When Holotype or Lectotype are lost, a similar Neotype can be defined.

Scientific name of a fossil

With the declaration of a name of a fossil, mostly only the genus and species, and possibly subspecies is listed. The name of the genus and subgenus begins always with a capital letter. The species name is in lower-case. Names of fossils are written in italics or underlined. Most names are in Latin or are 'Latinized'.

Example: Agnostus pisiformis

When the genus is known, but the species is unknown, behind the genus or subgenus you must write "sp.". This is an abbreviation of species. When the species is know but the subspecies is unknown, you write "ssp." behind the species name. This is an abbreviation for subspecies.  When the genus is not known, the name of the family or higher taxonomic classification can be used.

Example: Favosites sp. OR Megacardita planicosta ssp.

When there is reasonable doubt over the species name, the letters cf. are printed before the species name.

Example: Agnostus cf. pisiformis

After the name of the fossil, the name of the author who first described the species, and year of publication is listed.

Example: Agnostus pisiformis Linnaeus, 1757

The author and year of publication must be listed between () when the species was originally described in another genus.

Example: Aequipecten opercularis (Linnaeus, 1758)

When a subgenus is described, these is listed after the genus name and between ().

Example: Neptunea (Sulcosopho) angulata (Wood, 1848)

When subspecies are desribed, the subspecies is listed after the species name.

Example: Pygocardia rustica defrancei

Sometimes species or subspecies are further subdivided in “forms”. These are indicated with “forma” and then the form name.

Example: Caracomia arctica forma spinosa Hildebrand-Habel and Streng, 2003

Overview Taxonomic Classification

Below you will find a simplified taxonomic classification. In the diagram the most abundant fossil groups are marked with an icon which links to the Phot Page. About a final taxonomic classification there is still much debate in the scientific world. The taxonomic items which are not divided further are printed in grey.

Kingdom (Regnum) Division (Phylum) Class (Classis) Order (Ordo)
Eukarya
(Eukaryotes)		 Animalia
(Animals)		 Annelida
(Ringworms) 		Polychaeta
 (Bristleworms)		 Various groups, including the Family Serpulidae (Serpulids):
Clitellata  
Pogonophora
(Beardwormen)		  
Arthropoda
 (Arthropods) 		Arachnida
 (Spider likes)		  
Chilopoda
(Centipedes)		  
Diplopoda
(Millipedes)		  
Insecta
(Insects)		  
Crustacea
(Crustaceans)		 Branchiopoda
(Branchiopod schrimps)
Cephalocarida
(Horseshoe shrimps)
Malacostraca
(Crabs & Lobsters)
Maxillopoda
Ostracoda
(Ostracods)
Remipedia
Merostomata
(Horseshoe crabs)		  
Pycnogonida
(Sea Spiders)		  
Pauropoda  
Trilobita
(Trilobites)		  
Symphyla
(Garden Centipedes)		  
Collembola
(Springtails)		  
Diplura  
Protura
(Primitive Insects)		  
Brachiopoda
(Lampshells)		 Craniata  
Lingulata  
Paterinata  
Chileata  
Kutorginata  
Obolellata  
Rhynchonellata  
Strophomenata  
Bryozoa
(Moss animals)		 Stenolaemata  
Gymnolaemata  
Phylactolaemata  
Chordata Vertebrata
(Vertebrates)		 Amphibia
 (Amphibians)		  
Aves
(Birds)		  
Chondrichthyes
(Cartilaginous fishes)		 Rajomorphii
(Rays)
Selachimorpha
(Sharks)
Mammalia
 (Mammals)		  
Acanthodii
(Spiny sharks)
Actinopterygii
(Ray-finned fishes)
Cephalaspidomorphi
Dipnoi
(Lung fish)
Myxini
(Hagfishes)
Ostracodermi
(Jawless fishes)
Placodermi
(Armored fishes)
Reptilia
(Reptiles)		 Captorhinomorpha
Testudines
(Turtles)
Procolophonia
Crocodylia
(Crocodiles)
Rhynchocephalia
(Beak headed reptiles)
Squamata
(Snakes, Lizards etc.)
Mesosauria
Dinosauria
Ichthyosauria
Placodontia
Nothosauria
Plesiosauria
Pelycosauria
Therapsida
Sarcopterygii  
Cephalochordata
(Lancelets)		  
Urochordata
(Sea squirts and Tunicates)		  
Cnidaria
(Netle animals)		 Anthozoa
 (Corals)		 Alcyonacea
Gorgonacea
Helioporacea
Pennatulacea
Stolonifera
Telestacea
Antipatharia
Ceriantharia
Actiniaria
Scleractinia
Corallimorpharia
Ptychodactiaria
Rugosa
Zoanthidea
Tabulata
Cubozoa
(Box Jellyfish)		  
Hydrozoa
(Hydrozoans)		  
Scyphozoa
(Jellyfishes)		  
Echinodermata
(Echinoderms)		 Asteroidea
(Starfish)		  
Somasteroidea  
Echinoidea
(Sea Urchins)		  
Holothuroidea
(Sea Cucumbers)		  
Ophiuroidea
(Snake stars)		  
Crinoidea
(Sea Lilies)		  
Hemichordata
(Graptolites)		  
Mollusca
(Mollusks)		 Bivalvia
(Bivalves)		 Various groups containing the Rudists:
Gastropoda
(Snails)		  
Aplacophora  
Polyplacophora
(Chitons)		  
Monoplacophora  
Scaphopoda
(Tusk shells)		  
Cephalopoda
(Octopuses and Squids)		 Nautilida
(Nautilus likes)
Bactrida
Neocoleoidea
Goniatitida
(Goniatites)
Ceratida
(Ceratites)
Belemnoidea
(Belemnites)
Ammonitida
(Ammonites)
Rostroconchia  
Porifera
(Sponges)		  
Acanthocephala (Hookworms)
Chaetognatha
(Arrow worms)		  
Ctenophora
(Comb Jellies)		  
Cycliophora  
Echiura  
Entoprocta
 (Entoprocts)
Gastrotricha  
Gnathostomulida  
Kinorhyncha  
Loricifera  
Mesozoa  
Micrognathozoa  
Myzostomida  
Nematoda  
Nematomorpha
(Horsehair worms) 		 
Nemertea
 (Ribbon Worms)		  
Onychophora
(Velvet worms)		  
Phoronida  
Placozoa  
Platyhelminthes
(Flat worms)		  
Priapula  
Rotifera  
Sipuncula  
Tardigrada
(Water Bears) 		 
Plantae
(Plants)
 Anthocerophyta
(Hornworts)		  
Bryophyta
(Mosses)		  
Chlorophyta
(Green Algae)		  
Cycadophyta
(Cycas likes)		  
Sphenophyta
(Horsetails)		  
Ginkgophyta
(Ginko likes)		  
Rhyniophyta
(Ginko likes)		  
Zosteroplyllophyta
(Ginko likes)		  
Trimerophyllophyta
(Liverworts)		  
Lycophyta
(Club Mosses)		  
"Angiosperms"
(Flowering plants)		  
Coniferophyta
(Conifers)		  
Psilotophyta  
Pteridophyta
 (Ferns)		  
Pteridospermophyta
 (Seed Ferns)		  
Protista
(Protists)		 Amoebozoa  
Apusozoa  
Cercozoa  
Chromista  
Choanozoa  
Ciliophora  
Glaucophyta  
Heliozoa
(Sun animals)		  
Myzozoa Dinozoa Dinoflagellata
(Dinoflagellates)		  
Protalveolata  
Apicomplexa Apicomonadea  
Coccidea  
Gregarinea  
Hematozoa  
Retaria Foraminifera
(Foraminifers)		  
Radiozoa
(Radiolarians)
Rhodophyta
(Red Algae)		  
Telonemea  
Fungi  
Archaea  
Bacteria  
? Virusses  


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