Page 134 - The Error of the Evolution of Species

The Error of the Evolution
of Species

Scientific nomenclature makes it possible to distinguish

between species whose common names are often confused.
For instance, the bird known as the robin in Europe is dif-
ferent from the bird known by that name in America.
Confusion has been prevented by giving these separate
species different names. The European robin is properly
known as Erithacus rubecula, and its American counterpart
as Turdus migratorius. 162

In addition to naming species both living and extinct, sci-
entists also describe and classify them according to specific
criteria. The science of naming, describing and classifying
living things is known as taxonomy or systematics. For ex-
ample, animals are classified according to such criteria as
their body structures and systems, internal organs, develop-
mental stages, behavior and genetic information.
Information about extinct species is obtained from fossils.
The classification system in question consists of hierar-

chical categories, or seven main groups. In descending order
of size, these are:
Kingdom
Phylum (plural: phyla)
Class
Order
Family

Genus (plural: genera)
Species

132