KidzSearch Encyclopedia:How to read a taxobox

Taxoboxes are tables showing the common scientific classification of an organism or group of organisms.

Refer to the figure on the right, which shows the taxobox from the article Colorado potato beetle.

1. Common Name
   The common English name for it, if any, or else the scientific name.
2. Conservation Status
   For many things, this line how likely it is that species will not go extinct. The Colorado potato beetle is "Secure": there is no threat extinction.
3. Picture
   A picture of a typical individual.
4. Scientific Classification
   The center section of the taxobox shows the currently accepted scientific classification of the organism or group of organisms
5. "Ranks" of the Taxa
   On the left are the "ranks" of the taxa that are named on the right. The one on top is the most general grouping (Animal, Plant, Bacteria, or virus for example) and each line below it defines the species more precisely.
6. Binomial Name
   The binomial name or "binomen" is the scientific name for a species. This name is used so that no two organisms have the same name. Binomial names are commonly written in Latin.
7. Naming Authority
   The person who first named the organism and the year it was done.
8. Species Abbreviated Form
   The species appears again in abbreviated or shortened form.
9. Genus
   The genus Leptinotarsa contains more than 30 kinds of beetle.
10. Family
    Chrysomelidae is the family of leaf beetles. This family contains more than 35,000 kinds of plant-eating beetles.
11. Order
    Coleoptera is the order of beetles, containing more than 350,000 described species. Beetles have a pair of hard shells which cover their true wings.
12. Class
    Insecta is the class of insects, containing more than 800,000 described species. Insects have three segments (a head, a thorax, and an abdomen) and six legs.
13. Phylum
    Arthropoda is the phylum of arthropods, which have a segmented body, jointed legs and a hard exoskeleton.
14. Kingdom
    Animalia is the kingdom of animals, which are multicellular, generally capable of locomotion and responsive to their environment.