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Incertae sedis

Incertae sedis Incertae sedis (Latin for "of uncertain placement"), abbreviated "inc. sed.", is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined.^[1]

ExamplesEdit

The taxonomy for humans is usually recognized as follows:

Empire Neomura - along with all the living organisms, except eubacteria.
- Domain Eukaryota - along with all other nucleated organisms.
  - Kingdom Animalia - along with all other animals
    - Phylum Chordata - along with all other vertebrates and the invertebrate chordates
      - Class Mammalia - along with all other mammals
        Order Primates - along with all other primates
        Superfamily Hominoidea - along with all other apes
        Family Hominidae - along with all other great apes
        Subfamily Homininae - along with gorillas and chimpanzees
        Tribe Hominini - along with chimpanzees
        Subtribe Hominina - along with Australopithecus and prehistoric humans
        Genus Homo - along with Homo erectus and other prehistoric humans
        Species H. sapiens - humans

If modern humans were newly discovered or considered to be a taxonomic enigma, they might be given the rank of incertae sedis. For example, if it were uncertain how Homo related to other members of the family Hominidae, a list of the great apes would look like this:

Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
  - Class Mammalia
    - Order Primates
      - Family Hominidae
        Genus Homo incertae sedis
        Subfamily Ponginae - orangutan
        Subfamily Homininae - gorilla and chimpanzees

Likewise, if humans were known to be primates, but no other relationships were clear, a taxonomy of the primates would look like this:

Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
  - Class Mammalia
    - Order Primates
      - Genus Homo incertae sedis
      - Suborder Strepsirrhini - non-tarsier prosimians
      - Suborder Haplorrhini - tarsiers, monkeys and apes