Phylogeny
The science of taxonomy has been steadily expanding ever since Charles Linnaeus developed his famous binary system, but with the advent of molecular sequencing technology, the amount of information available has exploded. Consequently, new taxa are being discovered, relationships among existing taxa are continually being re-evaluated in light of new data, and phylogenetic trees have become astoundingly complex. What follows is a simplified graphical representation of the humble Yeti crab's branch in the overall tree of life (see also Maddison, et al. 2007).
Phylogenetic
tree illustrating the relationship between infraorder Anomura and the
animal kingdom. It must be emphasized that this
phylogenetic tree is a compilation and condensation of
numerous cladograms and is thus grossly
oversimplified at many points to enhance conceptual clarity;
in particular, indicia of possible paraphyly or
polyphyly in source cladograms have been ignored.
Some bifurcations have been omitted altogether, a fact especially apparent when consecutive taxa appear on the same level (e.g.,
Malacostraca: Eumalacostraca and Decapoda: Pleocyemata: Reptantia).
The image has been split in half due to spacial
constraints, resulting in graphical redundancy in the
Arthropoda taxon.
(Courtesy Tree of Life Web Project © 2007)