Ranks (was: Fwd: Nomenclature and classification)

[Richard Pyle]

> I am reminded of Parky Sharkey's
> definition of the family:
>
> "A family is a group including one or more genera (and
> itself included within a higher-ranked taxon) of a
> size and inclusiveness determined by common usage and
> mutual (although not necessarily explicit) agreement
> among taxonomists more or less familiar with the
> organisms involved."  Sharkey, P.  Unpubl.
> Deconstructing Systematics.
>
> Anyone have a better definition?

Not me - that pretty-well matches the definition that I use, and the one
Darwin hinted at, which in its distilled, generalized form is:

"A [insert any taxon rank here] is what a taxonomist (or community of
taxonomists) says it is."

I believe that this is what the definition of Linnaean classification ranks
always has been, and will always remain. Such is the nature of "rankful"
classification.

Aloha,
Rich

Richard L. Pyle
Ichthyology, Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817
Ph: (808)848-4115, Fax: (808)847-8252
email: deepreef at bishopmuseum.org
"The views expressed are the author's, and not necessarily those of Bishop
Museum."