Taxonomical uses of the species concept in the human lineage

Authors

  • Camilo J. Cela-Conde Laboratory of Human Systematics, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma
  • Marcos Nadal Laboratory of Human Systematics, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4081/hor.2012.6

Keywords:

biological species concept, evolutionary species concept, cladistics, Homo erectus, hominin dispersions.

Abstract

Different species concepts, which broadened the scope of Mayr’s Biological Species Concept, have been put forward aiming to produce sound taxonomies of fossil taxa. Here, we propose using a simple one, the Evolutionary Species Concept, on the grounds of considering that separation of populations – disregarding other issues – is enough to describe the evolution of the human lineage. The question of the acceptable number of Middle Pleistocene hominin species is used as an example.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Camilo J. Cela-Conde, Laboratory of Human Systematics, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma

Bio Camilo

Marcos Nadal, Laboratory of Human Systematics, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma

Bio Marcos

References

R. Rosselló-Mora. Opinion: the species problem, can we achieve a universal concept? Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 26, 323-326 (2003).

P. DeBach. Uniparental, sibling and semispecies in relation to taxonomy and biological control. Israel J. Entomol. 4, 11-28 (1969).

T. Dobzhansky. A critique of the species concept in biology. Philos. Sci. 2, 344-355 (1935).

T. Dobzhansky. Genetics and the origin of species. New York, NY, Columbia University Press (1937).

E. Mayr. Systematics and the origin of species from the viewpoint of a zoologist. New York, NY, Columbia University Press (1942).

E. Mayr. Animal Species and Evolution. Cambridge, Belnakp Press (1963).

E. Mayr. Population, Species, and Evolution. Cambridge, Harvard University Press (1970).

E. Mayr. Principles of systematic zoology. New York, NY, McGraw-Hill. 6th. edition, New Delhi, Tata McGraw-Hill. (1969).

Downloads

Published

02/02/2012

How to Cite

Cela-Conde, C. J., & Nadal, M. (2012). Taxonomical uses of the species concept in the human lineage. Human Origins Research, 2(1), e1. https://doi.org/10.4081/hor.2012.6

Issue

Section

Invited Reviews

Categories