From what I understand, there are usually fairy distinct differences in function and appearance between families within an order. However, I’ve noticed that sometimes genuses aren’t as clearly distinct from one another, and again, even more indistinguishable at times at the species level. This makes sense since it’s going down taxonomic levels.
But how do taxonomists determine where a species falls, especially when describing a newly discovered species? Similarly, how do they determine taxonomic levels for extinct species versus currently living species?
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It’s like when you go to a pizza restaurant. There are different varieties of pizza (e.g. Pepperoni, 4 cheese, etc.). They are ALL pizzas, but if you compare them, they have different ingredients (4 cheese lacks pepperoni). You also compare the new recipes to the old recipes and how they differ from each other. Lastly, you name a new pizza you have seen in that restaurant (i.e. Veggie pizza)
Genus and species don’t have an exact definition that applies everywhere in the tree of life. So, taxonomists have to look at how things are done in organisms that are closely related to figure out what to do. They talk to other researchers. Sometimes there are arguments!
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