On the number of categories in biological classifications. American Museum novitates ; no. 2584

Supplemental Materials

Date

1975

Journal Title

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Volume Title

Publisher

New York, N.Y. : American Museum of Natural History

DOI

DOI

Abstract

"The theoretical maximum and minimum numbers, and the most probable numbers, of categories to be recognized in classifications designed to express all cladistic information in groups of different sizes are derived by Monte Carlo models based on a theoretical distribution that fits real taxonomic data. The number of categories required is much nearer the minimum possible number than the maximum possible; usually 11 to 16 categories will be needed for a group of 100, 21 to 26 for a group of 1000, and 26 to 36 for a group of 10,000. The number of categories required for a group of a certain size increases as the percentage of the members of that group that are extinct increases"--P. [1].

Description

9 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 9).

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