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A111 Animal Kingdom 2
The traditional Linnaeus phyla-order-family animal
classification system was the basis for our earlier Animal Kingdom
poster, which showed only the living species. This system has been
replaced by the new cladistics classification system. This new way
of looking at animal life has had an enormous impact on the study of
animal development and prehistoric life. It is taught in all the
major universities and is now making its way into the grade schools.
Animal Kingdom 2 presents the new cladistics
classification system. Six newly established phyla / clades have
been added plus eleven containing only extinct species. This
increased the number of phyla / clades from 27 to 44. They are
grouped into the nine primary clades shown and explained in Animal
Development, thus the two posters complement each other.
Linnaeus did not know about prehistoric life and his
classification system groups together similar living species. It has
been the basis for animal science for over two-and-a-half centuries;
it is cited in so many documents that some scientists who only work
with modern day animals have been reluctant to abandon it. Many
biology textbooks have not yet been updated to reflect this
revolutionary new way of looking at animal life.
These factors have resulted in both systems being in use during
this transitional period. Because of this, both Animal Kingdom 2 and
Animal Development cite traditional phyla names, rather than the
clade names, which are almost identical. This all-new edition shows
almost twice as many species as the earlier one. It is an essential
reference chart for teachers, students and professionals dealing
with both living and prehistoric species. |
