Question

The term taxonomy was coined by
(a) De Candolle
(b) Theophrastus
(c) Pliny
(d) Linnaeus

Answer 1

Taxonomy is the science of nomenclature and classification of groups of organisms based on shared characteristics. This term was derived from Greek terms “taxis” meaning arrangement and “nomia” meaning method. The term was coined by a Swiss botanist who established the plant genus Senebiera in 1799.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
The term taxonomy was coined by A P De Candolle who was a Swiss botanist.
De Candolle conceptualized the idea of "Nature's war", which influenced Darwin’s principle of natural selection. De Candolle believed that multiple species developed similar characteristics that were not present in a common evolutionary ancestor. This concept is now known as convergent evolution.
De Candolle was a professor of botany at the University of Montpellier for a period of 10 years. It was during that period in 1813 when he published his Théorie élémentaire de la botanique or the Elementary Theory of Botany which introduced a new system of classification and the word taxonomy.

Additional Information:
All the living organisms are classified into seven taxonomic categories and the number of similarities between the organisms decreases from top to bottom. The different categories are hierarchically arranged as:
- Kingdom - Phylum (for animals) or Division (for plants) - Class - Order - Family - Genus - Species
- Taxonomists have also developed some sub- categories like sub- phylum or sub- division etc. in this hierarchy to make the arrangement more transparent and scientifically useful. - Each category is referred to as a unit of classification. It also represents rank in the taxonomic category. - A taxon represents any level of grouping of organisms based on certain easily observable common characteristics.
So, the correct answer is, ‘De Candolle.’

Note:
- De Candolle proposed a natural system of classification and nomenclature as opposed to the artificial one proposed by Linnaeus.
- Carolus Linnaeus was the first person to classify animals based on similar characteristics and develop a system of scientific nomenclature that is in use till today. For these achievements, he is known as the ‘Father of taxonomy’.