Concept of taxonomy

• World posses a great diversity of living organism in the world.

• It is impossible to study all organisms in the world.

• Thus, it would be easy to study by grouping organisms according to

similarity and differences.

• To make the study of diversed organism, concept of taxonomy is

developed
Taxonomy
Greek language, taxis-arrangement or classification

nomas- laws or rules

 Literally, taxonomy is known as law of arrangement of organisms in

accordance with similarities and dissimilarities of an organisms.

Term ‘ Taxonomy’ was first coined by French botanist A.P. de

candolle in 1813

 Carlous Linnaeus is known as father of taxonomy

Systematics
 Systematics is scientific study of classification of organism on the
basis of evolutionary and other relationship.
 It includes taxonomy, classification, identification, nomenclature and
diversity.
1. Classification: arrangement of organisms into definite group on the
basis of some character
2. Description : providing characteristic features to a taxon.
3. Identification: finding correct position of unknown organisms. It can
be done by aid of literature or key book.
4. Nomenclature: formal naming of taxa as per rule and procedures.
History of taxonomy
• Biologist from ancient times made simple attempts to work out a
scientific method of classification of organisms.

1. Aristotle (384-322BC):

• Greek philosopher and biologist of 4th century BC.

• Classified organisms into plants and animals on the basis of

morphological similarities.

• Created group and species

2. Theophratus (370-285):
• Father of botany, pteridology, lichenology.
• Greek philosopher
• Classified on the basis of form and texture into herbs, under shrubs,
shrub and trees.
• Distinguished plants on the basis life span into annual, biennial or
perennial plants.
• Also distinguished between flowering and non- flowering plants.
• Classified 480 plants in book entitled Historia planatarum (enquiry to
plants).
3. Charaka (1st century AD):
• Father of Ayurveda
• Classified 340 plants and 200 animals on the basis of medical
importance's in the book (charaka samhita).
4. John ray (1627-1705AD):
• Listed 18000 plant species from various parts of Europe and
described them in 3 volume book “Historia Generalis Plantarum”
• Introduced modern concept of species and Natural system of
classification based on morphological similarities.
5. Carlous Linnaeus (1707-1778):
• Father of taxonomy
• Classified 5,900 species of plants in his book “Species
planetarium” (1753)
• Also listed 4,326 species of animals and classified into
6 classes i.e., mammal, birds, amphibians, fishes,
insects and worms in his book “Systema naturae”
• Gave a scientific system of using 2 words to name
organism i.e., bionomial system of nomenclature
6. George Bentham( 1800-1884) and Dalton Hooker (1817-1911):
• Introduced new system of classification called natural system of
classification in book “ Genera Plantarum”
7. Augustin pyramus de candolle (1778-1841):
• Presented new classification of plants in his book “ Theory
climentaire”