Taxonomic classifications are used to organize cetacean species and understand how animals are related to each other as time progresses. Two taxonomic systems are used, modern cladistics and the older Linnaean system. Cladistics is a method of classifying organisms by common ancestry, based on the branching of the evolutionary family tree. Phylogenetic systematics is a method of classification based on the evolutionary history of organisms, dividing organisms into meaningful groups and subgroups. It was developed by Willi Hennig , an entomologist, in 1950, but was not well accepted until decades later.
Evolution results in modifications of characteristics over time.
A cladogram is a branching diagram that depicts species divergence from common ancestors. They show the distribution and origins of shared characteristics. Cladograms are testable hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships. The Linnaean System is based on a simple hierarchical structure in which organisms are sorted using the nomenclature of Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species. Airline Ticket Cars Computers Furniture Mortgage Music Shopping Stocks Travel Search the Web with GoTo - Type one or more words, then click on the arrow or type Enter.