Survey on the taxonomic category and the taxa of the highest rank
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Markus Göker
Sep 23, 2026, 9:19:52 PM (10 days ago) Sep 23
to Taxacom
Dear colleagues,
We would like to invite you to take part in the LPSN survey on high-level taxonomy, which can be found at:
https://s.surveylegend.com/s/6aa7
The survey is anonymous and will only take a few minutes.
BACKGROUND
The principal categories 'kingdom' and 'domain', which are above the phylum rank, were recently included in the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP). Similarly, official virus nomenclature was augmented by several principal categories, including 'kingdom' and 'realm'. Apparently, 'realm' and 'domain' represent the same principal rank directly above 'kingdom'. If so, the viral hierarchy is compatible with the ICNP and the botanical code, which goes up to the rank of kingdom, and the zoological code, which does not formally regulate these high ranks but mentions 'kingdom' as the highest rank in its glossary. In brief, the sequence of principal ranks is this:
? > domain/realm > kingdom > phylum/division > class > order > family > genus > species
Further harmonization may be warranted to reduce confusion. One would expect at least one principal category above the rank of 'domain' or 'realm', and at least one taxon at that rank comprising everything. Some databases have already introduced this informally. Irrespective of whether that category and that taxon could be included in a code of nomenclature, how should they actually be called? If there were only one taxon at the highest rank, including viruses as well as cellular organisms, should its name be more general or specifically indicate something living? How should the term 'empire', which is used in older literature to denote high ranks but is not included in a code, be treated?
The three simple questions in this anonymous survey, initiated by LPSN and friends, attempt to clarify these issues. Results will be published by LPSN once enough responses have been received.
Kind regards
Markus Göker
We would like to invite you to take part in the LPSN survey on high-level taxonomy, which can be found at:
https://s.surveylegend.com/s/6aa7
The survey is anonymous and will only take a few minutes.
BACKGROUND
The principal categories 'kingdom' and 'domain', which are above the phylum rank, were recently included in the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP). Similarly, official virus nomenclature was augmented by several principal categories, including 'kingdom' and 'realm'. Apparently, 'realm' and 'domain' represent the same principal rank directly above 'kingdom'. If so, the viral hierarchy is compatible with the ICNP and the botanical code, which goes up to the rank of kingdom, and the zoological code, which does not formally regulate these high ranks but mentions 'kingdom' as the highest rank in its glossary. In brief, the sequence of principal ranks is this:
? > domain/realm > kingdom > phylum/division > class > order > family > genus > species
Further harmonization may be warranted to reduce confusion. One would expect at least one principal category above the rank of 'domain' or 'realm', and at least one taxon at that rank comprising everything. Some databases have already introduced this informally. Irrespective of whether that category and that taxon could be included in a code of nomenclature, how should they actually be called? If there were only one taxon at the highest rank, including viruses as well as cellular organisms, should its name be more general or specifically indicate something living? How should the term 'empire', which is used in older literature to denote high ranks but is not included in a code, be treated?
The three simple questions in this anonymous survey, initiated by LPSN and friends, attempt to clarify these issues. Results will be published by LPSN once enough responses have been received.
Kind regards
Markus Göker
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