Taxonomic rank
taxonomic rank (noun, pl. taxonomic ranks;nomenclature term) – a relative position within the taxonomic hierarchy of the traditional, Linnaean System of taxonomic nomenclature; the ranking of species within the taxonomic hierarchy is essentially based on similarities and presumed evolutionary relationships. Established principal ranks are kingdom (regnum) – division (divisio) or phylum (phylum) – class (classis) – order (ordo) – family (familia) – genus (genus) – species (species). There is very little taxonomic stability for ranks above the order; above kingdom the term domain is more and more commonly used to denote an even higher category of taxonomic classification. Below the species (infraspecific) only five ranks are formally accepted, subspecies (subspecies) – variety (varietas) – subvariety (subvarietas) – form (forma) – subform (subforma). In Fungi an additional rank, the special form (forma specialis) can also be used to distinguish different taxa by their host. The prefixes Supra- and Sub- are sometimes used to introduce additional ranks, e. g., subfamily, subspecies. Theprefix "notho–" is used for hybrid taxa. The formal ranking of the Linnaean System has repeatedly been criticized, especially by authors working on the phylogeny of taxa, and a supposedly rank-free alternative to the Linnaean System has been proposed as the Phylocode.
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