Taxonomy Guide

The RESTasaurus API uses a hierarchical biological classification system to organize dinosaur taxonomy. Each dinosaur’s classification follows the standard Linnaean taxonomy system with the following hierarchy levels:

Domain → Kingdom → Phylum → Clade → Class → Order → Family → Tribe → Genus → Species

The API follows this order when displaying classification information:

The classInfo field supports these classification types in order:

Order: Superclass → Class → Subclass → Infraclass → Subterclass → Parvclass

The orderInfo field supports these classification types in order:

Order: Magnorder → Superorder → Grandorder → Mirorder → Order → Suborder → Infraorder → Parvorder

The familyInfo field supports these classification types:

Family: Family → Subfamily

The tribeInfo field supports these classification types:

Tribe: Tribe → Subtribe

The genusInfo field represents the genus classification:

Here’s how a dinosaur’s classification is structured in the API:

{
  "classificationInfo": {
    "domain": "Eukaryota",
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "superphylum": "Bilateria",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "clade": [
      "Dinosauria",
      "Saurischia",
      "Theropoda"
    ],
    "classInfo": [
      {
        "classType": "Class",
        "value": "Reptilia"
      }
    ],
    "orderInfo": [
      {
        "orderType": "Order",
        "value": "Saurischia"
      }
    ],
    "familyInfo": [
      {
        "familyType": "Family",
        "value": "Tyrannosauridae"
      },
      {
        "familyType": "Subfamily",
        "value": "Tyrannosaurinae"
      }
    ],
    "tribeInfo": [],
    "genusInfo": [
      {
        "genusType": "Genus",
        "value": "Tyrannosaurus"
      }
    ],
    "speciesInfo": []
  }
}

Dinosaurs in the API are organized into several major clades. Click on a clade to learn more about it on Wikipedia:

Each classification level has specific Wikipedia articles explaining the taxonomic concepts in detail:

For detailed information about specific classification levels and dinosaur taxonomy, visit:

• Wikipedia: Dinosaur - Comprehensive dinosaur encyclopedia
• Wikipedia: Dinosaur Classification - Detailed classification systems
• Wikipedia: Linnaean Taxonomy - The classification system developed by Carl Linnaeus
• Wikipedia: Taxonomy (biology) - Biological classification principles
• Wikipedia: Taxonomic Rank - Taxonomic hierarchy and ranks
• Wikipedia: Clade - Evolutionary grouping concepts

• Model Overview - See how classification is structured in the data models