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Do you know? How Linnaeus divided animals, plants and minerals into three kingdoms?
In the mid-18th century, Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus proposed a systematic classification of organisms. This classification system not only reshaped the scientific community at that time, but also profoundly influenced the development of later generations. Biological development. In his book "Systema Naturae" published in 1735, he explained in detail that he divided the biological world into three main kingdoms: Animal Kingdom (Regnum Animale), Plant Kingdom (Regnum Vegetabile) and Mineral Kingdom (Regnum Vegetabile). Regnum Lapideum). This division is not only to simplify the classification of organisms, but also to better understand and study the natural world.
Linnaeus’s method of dividing the kingdom is still within our horizons and has become an interesting question for thinking.
Linnaeus’ classification system
Linnaeus' classification system was based on hierarchical relationships, subdividing living things into smaller groups. In his system, kingdoms were divided into classes, which were further divided into orders, families, genera, and species. This layered structure makes the classification of organisms clearer. However, the names and classification methods used by Linnaeus do not correspond exactly to the terms used in modern classifications.
Classification of plants
In "Systema Naturalis", Linnaeus' plant classification system was mainly based on the number and arrangement of the reproductive organs of plants. His "sex system" was based on the number of stamens and pistils. For example:
- Plant with one stamen: Classis 1. Monandria
- Diandria plants: Classis 2. Diandria
- Plant with three stamens: Classis 3. Triandria
The influence of this system continued into the 19th century, and although it did not always represent natural taxa, it still provided a basic framework for the development of botany.
Classification of animals
Linnaeus's classification of the animal kingdom was also quite groundbreaking. In his classification, the animal kingdom was divided into six main categories, whose influence can still be seen today:
- Mammals: Classis 1. Mammalia
- Birds: Classis 2. Aves
- Amphibians: Classis 3. Amphibia
- Fish: Classis 4. Pisces
- Insects: Classis 5. Insecta
- Classis 6. Vermes
This classification effectively systematizes various animals according to their characteristics and significantly advances the study of biology.
Classification of minerals
Although Linnaeus also tried to classify minerals, this part of the work has been eliminated so far. In the tenth edition of his "Systems of Nature", Linnaeus' classification of minerals mainly included:
- Rock: Classis 1. Petræ
- Mineral: Classis 2. Mineræ
- Fossil: Classis 3. Fossilia
- Unknown substance: Classis 4. Vitamentra
This classification, although no longer recognized in the scientific community, shows Linnaeus' attempt to expand the boundaries of his research.
Progress in modern taxonomies
Linnaeus's classification went through many changes over time. Modern biologists have begun to recognize the role of evolution in understanding biological relationships. Charles Darwin's publication of "On the Origin of Species" in 1859 marked the rise of evolutionary theory, which prompted biologists to re-evaluate how living things are related. Therefore, the classification system of modern biology focuses more on reflecting the evolutionary history of species rather than just structural characteristics.
In recent years, with the development of molecular biology and genomics, biological classification has become increasingly dependent on genomic data. Biologists are gradually proposing to replace the traditional Linnaean classification with new systems, such as PhyloCode, to better reflect evolutionary relationships.
This makes us think: How will biological classification evolve in the future? Will there be a completely new system to replace Linnaeus' three kingdoms?
