All placozoans are superficially identical. But comparative genomic data reveals the presence of different genera. This is the first time that a new animal genus has been defined solely by genomics.

Animal systematics and taxonomy provide the fundamental framework for understanding the immense diversity of animal life. By integrating traditional morphological evaluation with modern molecular ...

You can categorize every single living being. This classification system allows scientists to study plant and animal diversity and to group closely related species. From horses to insects to worms, ...

Despite their underwater habitat, whales are mammals. Mammals are not solely terrestrial; some, including whales and dolphins, are fully aquatic the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology reports.

Scientists are revolutionizing how new marine species are described through the Ocean Species Discoveries initiative. Using advanced lab techniques, researchers recently unveiled 14 new species from ...

A treasure trove of rare freshwater fossils has been described from Taiwan in a new study. Dating back to the Early ...

This article was taken from the September 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content ...

Up until quite recently, the animal phylum Placozoa enjoyed a unique position in animal systematics. It was the only phylum to which only a single species had ever been assigned: Trichoplax adhaerens.