answersLogoWhite

0

What do taxonomists do?

Updated: 8/9/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Best Answer

A taxonomist is a scientist who names newly discovered organisms such as a species of animal. this is part of the classification process which can be done through different knowledge keys, such as a tabular key, a dichotomous key, or a circular key. Classification is used by scientists in their attempts to organise and understand the world.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Scientists study things like if an animal has hair, if it is warm blooded, and what kind of feet it has. All of these observations can be made by simply observing the animal so it doesn't take long for an organism to get placed in a class.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

There are four main ways that taxonomists investigate evolutionary relationships between organisms, the fossil record, biogeography, homologies, and direct observation and experiments.

They use the fossil record mostly by appearance. They compare the skeletal structures of the proposed ancestral species and the species they think might be the descendant of the species. In rare occasions they can also compare slight traces of DNA between the organisms.

A perfect example of biogeography is the Gallapagos finches that Darwin discovered. Biogeography basically accounts for the the distribution of species.

Homologies are split into two sub categories; comparative anatomy and molecular comparison. Comparative anatomy reveal some embryological development and can show that although modern forms have different functions they could have evolved from a common ancestor.

Direct observation and experiments are just conducting experiments based on hypothesis.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Taxonomists try to identify evolutionary relationships between new organisms and old organisms, sometimes they can and sometimes they can't. Some taxonomists also classify, describe and name new organisms.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Taxonomists identify organisms. Identification is often useful in environmental studies.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

So they can reconstruct the evolution of a species

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

Taxonomists classify things, especially organisms. Their job is to put organisms in their correct area.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Finances

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What do taxonomists do?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp