ScienceAugust 17, 2026

taxonomy

tak-SON-uh-mee

Definition

The scientific process of classifying, naming, and categorizing organisms based on their shared characteristics and genetic relationships.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Greek 'taxis' meaning 'arrangement' and 'nomos' meaning 'law' or 'science'. It was coined in the 19th century to describe the principles of classification.

In the news

The discovery of a new coral family is described as a rare and exceptional milestone in marine taxonomy. This highlights the scientific importance of the field in cataloging the vast, unknown diversity of deep-sea ecosystems.

Scientists Discover Brand-New Deep-Sea Coral Species Near Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco

Read the full article ↗

The Costa Rica News

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