Template:Taxobox

File:Test Template Info-Icon - Version (2).svg Template documentation[view] [edit] [history] [purge]

This template sets up a manual taxobox, as a right-side infobox table setting out the biological classification (taxonomy) for a group of living things. For guide to automated taxoboxes, see WP:Automated taxobox system/intro.

Although with a choice of over 160 parameters, the implementation is complicated, it is relatively simple to use. Most parameters are optional, so if a particular entry is not relevant for your case, just leave it out. See below section "All parameters" for a complete list.

This guide has come out of WikiProject Tree of life.

Usage

Note that parameters in this template are case-sensitive. <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto">

Taxobox
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae (or...)

</syntaxhighlight> Colors are automatically assigned based on the table below.

Animalia	rgb(235,235,210)
Archaea	rgb(195,245,250)	also Nanoarchaeota (Nanarchaeota), Korarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota
Archaeplastida	rgb(180,250,180)	also Plantae and Viridiplantae
Bacteria	rgb(220,235,245)
Eukaryota	rgb(245,215,255)	For eukaryotes with no other colour defined, including Excavata, Amoebozoa and Opisthokonta
Fungi	rgb(145,250,250)
Ichnotaxa	rgb(230,222,214)
incertae sedis	rgb(250,240,230)
SAR	rgb(200,250,80)	also Harosa, Chromalveolata
Ootaxa	rgb(250,250,220)
Viruses	rgb(250,250,190)	also Viroids

Quick start and examples

Animals

Animal species

Asian golden cat
Orange cat sitting with head up and eyes almost closed.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Genus:	Catopuma
Species:	C. temminckii
Binomial name
Catopuma temminckii (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto">

Taxobox
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia

</syntaxhighlight>

Animal higher taxon

Rorquals
Underwater humpback whale diving, with front flipper extended.
Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Cetacea
Suborder:	Mysticeti
Family:	Balaenopteridae Gray, 1864
Genera
Balaenoptera Megaptera

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto">

Taxobox
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia

</syntaxhighlight>

Plants

The majority of plants are angiosperms ("flowering plants"). Wikipedia:WikiProject Plants consensus is to use the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group's classification system for angiosperms, currently APG IV. The APG system does not have formally named divisions or classes, but includes several hierarchically nested, informally named clades. The hierarchy of informally named clades is presented by using parameters such as |unranked divisio= in place of formal rank parameters. Articles on non-flowering plants (e.g. conifers, ferns) should continue to use formal divisions and classes in the Taxobox.

Flowering plant species

Magnolia virginiana
White flower surrounded by long green leaves.
Magnolia virginiana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Magnoliids
Order:	Magnoliales
Family:	Magnoliaceae
Genus:	Magnolia
Species:	M. virginiana
Binomial name
Magnolia virginiana L.

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto">

Taxobox
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms

</syntaxhighlight>

Flowering plant higher taxon

Oaks
Cluster of oak leaves and acorns.
Foliage and acorns of the pedunculate oak, Quercus robur
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fagales
Family:	Fagaceae
Genus:	Quercus L.
Species
See List of Quercus species.

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto">

Taxobox
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms

</syntaxhighlight>

Viruses

Although for historical reasons, parameters currently exist for virus taxa, the template is not appropriate for viruses, whose classification uses different ranks, italicization and naming rules. Use the automated taxobox {{Virusbox}} instead.

Parameters

Name

Provided under this parameter should be the single most common vernacular name when one is in widespread use, or a single current scientific name otherwise.

• Common names of higher taxa are always given in sentence case (rather than title case) and in the plural (e.g. marine hatchetfishes).
• Common names of species and subspecies are also to be given in sentence case but in the singular (e.g. black crowned crane, Colorado potato beetle).

The name parameter should not be used to incorporate more than one name. It is only a header and not meant to be an inclusive "names" field. One will suffice. Please assess the relevant literature in deciding which.

Color

The color is automatically assigned based on the entry for a number of ranks from |phylum= upwards (see Template:Taxobox). There is normally no need to specify it manually; |color_as= can be used when color cannot be automatically assigned (e.g. for enigmatic fossils that cannot be assigned to a kingdom).

Animalia	rgb(235,235,210)
Archaea	rgb(195,245,250)	also Nanoarchaeota (Nanarchaeota), Korarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota
Archaeplastida	rgb(180,250,180)	also Plantae and Viridiplantae
Bacteria	rgb(220,235,245)
Eukaryota	rgb(245,215,255)	For eukaryotes with no other colour defined, including Excavata, Amoebozoa and Opisthokonta
Fungi	rgb(145,250,250)
Ichnotaxa	rgb(230,222,214)
incertae sedis	rgb(250,240,230)
SAR	rgb(200,250,80)	also Harosa, Chromalveolata
Ootaxa	rgb(250,250,220)
Viruses	rgb(250,250,190)	also Viroids

Classification

As noted above, the classification section includes some or all of the following:

<syntaxhighlight lang="text" style="overflow:auto"> | regnum = | phylum = | classis = | ordo = | familia = | genus = | species = </syntaxhighlight>

Each entry corresponds to a containing group, except for the last, which should be the group under consideration. Note the entries use the Latin names for the ranks, to make porting between Wikipedias easier. Thus the above correspond to the kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

Red wood ant
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Formicini
Genus:	Formica
Species:	F. rufa
Binomial name
Formica rufa Linnaeus, 1761

Taxoboxes should include all major ranks above the taxon described in the article, plus minor ranks that are important to understanding the classification of the taxon described in the article, or which are discussed in the article. Other minor ranks should be omitted.

For example, in the taxobox for the genus Formica, it's appropriate to include entries for tribe and subfamily, since those are an aid to understanding how Formica relates to other genera in the family Formicidae. But it wouldn't be appropriate to include the superorder Holometabola, since all genera of ants are in that superorder; it isn't particularly interesting at this level.

Another example is the subfamily Bambusoideae, the bamboos. This subfamily probably should be mentioned in the taxobox of every bamboo species, since it is a major grouping in this context, despite its minor rank.

Minor ranks are included in the same way as major ranks, for example:

<syntaxhighlight lang="text" style="overflow:auto"> | classis = ... | subclassis = ... | superordo = ... | ordo = ... </syntaxhighlight>

Note that species and subspecies should be given using the abbreviated forms of their name—e.g. H. sapiens, H. s. sapiens. The epithets should not be given by themselves. The full form of the species or subspecies name is given in the binomial or trinomial section.

See #All parameters for a complete list.

Classification status

With the |classification_status= parameter, it is possible to introduce extra text within parentheses after "Scientific classification". For example, |classification_status=disputed will produce "Scientific classification (disputed)". See Baranophrys for a current example where this parameter is used. This parameter should only be used when the "Scientific classification" text would be misleading without it.

Divisions and sections

These ranks have different meanings in zoology and botany.

In botany:

• Use divisio for division (a rank above class and below kingdom)
• Use sectio for section (a rank above species and below genus)

Note: Certain very large genera, e.g. Rhododendron include subsections

In zoology:

• Use zoodivisio for division (a rank above family and below order)
• Use zoosectio for section (a rank above family and below order)

Unranked taxa

For each major taxon from family to phylum, you can add an unranked entry to the taxobox. The entry unranked_X appears above rank X, for example unranked_superfamilia appears above family and superfamily and below order, suborder, infraorder, etc.:

<syntaxhighlight lang="text" style="overflow:auto"> | ordo = | unranked_superfamilia = | familia = </syntaxhighlight>

For animals and non-flowering plants, use unranked taxa sparingly. The need to include unranked taxa generally indicates that you are following phylogenetic nomenclature. It is usually better to abbreviate the classification to the major ranks and then discuss the classification in more detail in the article.

Unranked taxa of flowering plants

Flowering plants (angiosperms) make frequent use of unranked taxa. The APG III system of classification used for flowering plants on Wikipedia does not have formally named ranks above order—e.g. divisions, classes, subclasses—but includes several hierarchically nested, informally named and unranked clades. For flowering plants the taxobox should include |unranked_divisio=Angiosperms in place of |divisio=, |unranked_classis= in place of |classis=, and possibly also |unranked_subclassis= in place of |subclassis=. Flowering plant taxoboxes may often include three to four informal hierarchical groups above the rank of order, making the use of |unranked_ordo= necessary, which sorts itself just above |ordo= where a formally named order is displayed. The unranked parameters only include ranks in their parameter names, such as "unranked divisio" to allow the editor to place content hierarchically; no approximation of rank is intended by the use of these parameter names. For flowering plant articles using the APG III system of classification, the regular parameters including |divisio=, |classis=, and |subclassis= should not be used or it will display between these unranked APG III clades.

To comply with #Classification above and its advice on the inclusion of major ranks, the following are considered major ranks in APG III and currently included in the appropriate flowering plant taxoboxes:

• Angiosperms
  • Magnoliids
  • Monocots
    • Commelinids
  • Eudicots
    • Core eudicots (displayed as a major rank when the plant is not included further nested in rosids or asterids)
      • Rosids
      • Asterids

Note: The rosids contain two clades, the fabids (also known as eurosids I) and malvids (also known as eurosids II), and the asterids contain two further clades, the lamiids (euasterids I) and campanulids (euasterids II). These are considered to be minor ranks and are only to be displayed on the articles on orders or families they immediately contain.

A taxobox for a flowering plant will thus generally include the following parameters: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto"> | regnum = Plantae | unranked_divisio = Angiosperms | unranked_classis = | unranked_ordo = | ordo = </syntaxhighlight>

Bold/italic markup

Italicization must be done manually in all parameters. If the entry for genus, species or binomial (with manually added italics) matches the page title, then the name of the taxobox and the title of the page will be italicized. Note that if the |name= parameter is used the page title will not be automatically italicized. The taxobox's name will be set to exactly what is specified in |name= – italics must be specified manually in this case.

Genus, species, and subspecies should be italicized whenever used, as is the biological standard. For instance, we talk about the genus Homo, the species Homo sapiens, and the subspecies Homo sapiens sapiens.

• In botany, it is important to include the rank for taxa below species. The rank is not italicized, e.g. Genus species subsp. subspecies var. variety.
• Some bacteria that have been characterized but not formally named are given Candidatus names. These should be written in the form Candidatus Genus species, rather than italicized normally.

Higher taxa like families may or may not be italicized in different publications. The prevalent standard for Wikipedia is not to italicize them, except in the case of viruses and other infectious particles.

Bolding is used to indicate the subject of the article. The |name=, |binomial=, and |trinomial= parameters bold automatically. In the placement section—|regnum= through |species=—the final taxon should be bolded, as well as any higher groups that only include the final taxon. See green sulfur bacteria for an example.

Subdivisions

Nettle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Urticaceae
Genus:	Urtica L.
Species
U. angustifolia U. ardens U. atrichocaulis U. atrovirens U. cannabina U. chamaedryoides U. dioica U. dubia U. ferox U. fissa U. galeopsifolia U. gracilenta U. hyperborea U. incisa U. kioviensis U. laetivirens U. linearifolia U. mairei U. membranacea U. morifolia U. parviflora U. pilulifera U. platyphylla U. pubescens U. rupestris U. sondenii U. taiwaniana U. thunbergiana U. triangularisa U. urens

Groups above the rank of species (and even species if there are several notable subspecies) should usually include a list of subgroups. Use the |subdivision= parameter for the list. The list can be formatted using a number of templates, such as the specialized {{linked taxon list}} and {{linked species list}}, which deal with authorities as well (see the documentation at Template:Taxon list for variant templates), or using a general list template such as {{columns-list}}. Use the |subdivision_ranks= parameter to say what rank the subgroups have. For instance, for families in an order:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto"> | subdivision_ranks = Families | subdivision =

 Template:Linked taxon list

</syntaxhighlight>

For lists with more than a few subgroups, the list can be bracketed with {{div col}} and {{div col end}}, which will split the list into two columns (see Nettle example at right). In cases where a list would make the taxobox too long, or where the classification is too variable to allow a brief summary, the list should be replaced with a comment like "See text" or the subdivision section should be omitted. As a rule of thumb, when there are more than 100 subgroups the list should be in a separate article.

In cases where the classification is variable, a description like "Typical orders" or "Notable orders" may be used.

In cases where the ranks are uncertain, a description like "Subgroups" or "Taxa" may be preferable. Sometimes it is convenient to represent more than one level of classification in the list. In that case the lower level groups are moved over to the right by prefixing them with &nbsp; characters—usually three for the first level of indentation, and then one to three more for each subsequent level. Major grades may also be represented by bolded headers, as on plant and heterokont. Remember, though, these should mainly be done when the intermediate rank subgroups are not worthy of separate articles; taxoboxes are too small to include too much duplicate information.

Conservation status

Main article: Wikipedia:Conservation status

File:Status iucn3.1.svg

IUCN from 2001 (IUCN3.1)

File:Status iucn2.3.svg

IUCN from 1994 (IUCN2.3)

File:Status TNC.svg

Global NatureServe status (TCN)

File:Status ESA.svg

U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)

File:Status COSEWIC.svg

Canada's Species at Risk/SARA (COSEWIC)

File:Status EPBC.svg

Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC)

File:Status DECF.svg

Western Australia's Declared Rare and Priority Flora List (DECF)

File:Status 2008 NZTCS.svg

New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS)

Conservation status may optionally be included to show a graphical view of the conservation status. It is composed from a set of parameters according to the following structure:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto;"> |status = code |status_system = classification system—required if code is set |status_ref = —optional |extinct = year of extinction—optional (only use if |status=EX and year of extinction is known) </syntaxhighlight>

Notes:

1. Conservation status is not appropriate for prehistoric organisms—use the |fossil_range= parameter.
2. Some automated taxoboxes also use |extinct= for a different purpose—see Template:Speciesbox#Extinct species.

Status system

There are several organizations declaring conservation status, and this has led to different classification and criteria. For this reason a status level must also be specified together with the classification system used.

The recommended status_system to use is IUCN3.1, but if not available for the species, other systems are supported. Details and other systems are listed at Wikipedia:Conservation status. Images to the right provide examples of the available systems, both international and national. IUCN2.3 is deprecated for new boxes, although some taxoboxes still exist and are supported for this version.

This parameter is required in order to display the proper conservation status graphic. Failure to use this parameter will result in no graphic appearing.

Status code

Set the relevant status code from the selected system. The code should use upper and lower case as specified per system documentation. It may also be possible to use a template instead of the code.

You can search the IUCN's database of threatened species to find the conservation status of many organisms.

With each system having different codes, please refer to system documentation for the available codes.

The following list is kept in the documentation for historic reasons (the third column shows the category that is automatically added to the article):

IUCN statuses in taxoboxes

Status (as shown in taxobox)	Code	Category assigned
Secure	secure
Domesticated	DOM	Category:Domesticated animals
Least Concern (LC)	LC
Least Concern (LR/lc)	LR/lc
Near Threatened (NT)	NT
Near Threatened (LC/nt)	LR/nt
Conservation Dependent (LR/cd)	LR/cd
Vulnerable (VU)	VU
Endangered (EN)	EN	Category:Endangered species
Critically Endangered	CR	Category:Critically endangered species
Critically Endangered (CR), possibly extinct	PE	Category:Critically endangered species
Extinct in the wild (EW)	EW	Category:Species extinct in the wild
Extinct	EX
Data deficient (DD)	DD
Not evaluated (NE)	NE
Fossil	fossil
Prehistoric	pre
See text	See text
Lower Risk	LR

Notes:

Referencing conservation status

To add a reference for the status, use:

 | status_ref = <ref>{{Cite journal | author = |title = | journal = [[The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] | volume = | page = | publisher = [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] | date = | url = | doi = | access-date = }}</ref>

See {{Cite journal}} or {{Cite iucn}} for the parameters you need to supply to that template. And don't forget that <ref> requires a corresponding {{Reflist}} or <references /> in the References section.

Fossil range

The stratigraphic range for groups known as fossils may also be included, using the |fossil_range= parameter. For instance, for a group known from the Cambrian to the Permian:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto">

|fossil_range = Cambrian–Permian

</syntaxhighlight>

You may wish to add a diagrammatic representation of the fossil range (as shown below), which can be created using the {{Fossil range}} template, for example:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto">

| fossil_range =

</syntaxhighlight>

or

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto">

| fossil_range = Cambrian–Permian

</syntaxhighlight>

For extant taxa that continue into the present day, the ending period should be set to "Recent" or as "Holocene" for Late Quaternary extinctions such as the moa, and the current status should be indicated using the |status= parameter.

For groups that only existed during a single period, simply list it without giving a range: e.g.:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto">

| fossil_range =

</syntaxhighlight>

Images

An image can be included using the parameter |image=. It is highly recommended that an image be provided if one is available. Do not include the "File:" part of the image file name!

If an image is included, alt text should be provided using parameter "|image_alt=". Alt text should not repeat the caption; instead, it should describe the image contents to someone who can't see it (see WP:ALT).

A caption can be provided using parameter "|image_caption=". A caption need not be provided if it would just repeat the title of the article. It should be provided if it can convey any additional information about the image, such as the sex or life stage of the individual, the location where the picture was taken, the artist (if an engraving or other illustration), or (for higher taxa) the particular species depicted. <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto; font-size:80%"> | image = Sweetbay1082.jpg | image_alt = White flower surrounded by long green leaves | image_caption = Magnolia virginiana </syntaxhighlight>

By default, the image width is determined by each user's default thumbnail size preference. In general, it is recommended that these preferences be honoured. In some cases, however, it may be desirable to overrule the default size; this can be achieved by use of the |image_upright= parameter, which scales the image. Thus |image_upright=1.1 makes the image 10% larger than the user's default thumbnail size; |image_upright=0.75 makes it 25% smaller. See MOS:IMGSIZE for more information.

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto; font-size:80%"> | image = Sweetbay1082.jpg | image_alt = White flower surrounded by long green leaves | image_caption = Magnolia virginiana | image_upright = 1.45 </syntaxhighlight>

Long or complex image captions, which should rarely be necessary, look better when left-aligned. This can be achieved using "|image_caption_align=left".

A second image may be added by use of the |image2=, |image2_alt=, |image2_caption= and |image2_upright= parameters. Use this sparingly, and only when the article is long enough, and when it makes sense to include the second image inside the taxobox and not later in the article. Camel is a good example (a genus with two well-known representatives). A second image may also be useful for species that display sexual dimorphism so that both a male and female representative could be shown, e.g. Northern cardinal.

Authorities

Generally, an authority should be given only for the taxa covered by the article. Higher groups which only include the article subject should also list authorities unless those are the same as for the taxa in question. In the case of species (or subspecies) the authority may be given in the binomial (or trinomial) section. Otherwise authorities may be listed in the placement section. For instance, for an order:

<syntaxhighlight lang="text" style="overflow:auto"> | ordo = | ordo_authority = </syntaxhighlight>

The following examples illustrate the different conventions for names, dates, and punctuations in the different kingdoms.

• Animalia
  • Original name valid: Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758
  • Organism reclassified: Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758) (originally Felis leo)
• Plantae
  • Original name valid: Magnolia virginiana L.
  • Organism reclassified: Anacamptis pyramidalis (L.) Rich. (originally Orchis pyramidalis)
• Bacteria
  • Original name valid: Vibrio cholerae R. Koch 1883
  • Organism reclassified: Streptococcus pneumoniae (Klein 1884) Chester 1901 (originally Micrococcus pneumoniae)
  • Old name revived: Salmonella enterica (ex Kauffmann & Edwards 1952) Le Minor & Popoff 1987

Authorities in scientific names are also abbreviated according to different standards for plants and animals. To decipher standard abbreviations, see

• List of botanists by author abbreviation or consult the International Plant Names Index.
• List of zoologists by author abbreviation

For more information refer to the article on binomial nomenclature.

Diversity

In higher taxa, and taxa where the subdivision option does not indicate number of species, the |diversity= parameter may be used. This needs to be accompanied by |diversity_link= which links to an appropriate page, usually a List of ... species page. See, for example, Banksia: the subdivision lists only two subgenera, so the |diversity= option is used to specify the number of species.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text" style="overflow:auto; font-size:80%"> | diversity_link = List of Quercus species | diversity = c. 120 species </syntaxhighlight>

It is not a good idea to be too precise about the number of species. New species are still being regularly described in many groups. Moreover, changing systematic treatment is liable to alter the species number even in well-known genera. Rounding off the species number and denoting this as approximate value will help decreasing maintenance.

Use the |diversity_ref= parameter to give references for the number of species, for example: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto; font-size:80%"> | diversity_ref = </syntaxhighlight>

Range maps

A range map may be included at the end of the taxobox. This uses the |range_map=, |range_map_upright=, |range_map_alt=, and |range_map_caption= parameters, in the same manner as an image. Specifying range map width is unnecessary in most cases. See leopard (land animal), northern flicker (non-migratory bird), lesser spotted eagle (migratory bird) and orca (water animal) for examples.

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto"> | range_map = Map.jpg | range_map_upright = 1.1 | range_map_alt = Map showing ... | range_map_caption = Range of ... </syntaxhighlight>

Up to four range maps can be included, via additional parameters such as |range_map2=, |range_map2_caption=, etc.

You can generate maps using an appropriate blank map such as Image:BlankMap-World-noborders.png. Do not make the distribution map too large (a width of 300 to 400 should be sufficient, the purpose of the map being a rough global overview; more detailed maps can always go to the article body) and add the map to Category:Habitat maps, or, preferably, if you upload the map to Commons, to commons:Category:Animal distribution maps.

Synonyms

Where a species has synonyms, the |synonyms= parameter may be used. The list of synonyms can be formatted using the same approach as for Subdivisions, but synonyms should not normally be linked, so e.g. {{Taxon list}} should be used for taxa whose names aren't italicized and {{Species list}} for those whose names are.

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto"> | synonyms =

 Template:Species list

</syntaxhighlight>

Nomenclator Zoologicus has data for all but the most recently established animal genera. This may be hard to understand for non-specialists, but it is a comprehensive source for the authorship of genus names, both valid ones and junior synonyms. Sometimes one will note that a new name has been established because the older, original name was "preoccupied". This means it has already been established for another taxon of the same rank in the same kingdom before—even if that name is now a synonym too. Taxa that preoccupy a name can be linked in the Synonyms section, such as Stenorhynchus here.

Long lists may be folded using |hidden=yes with any of the taxon list templates. Alternatvely, use {{collapsible list|bullets=true|...}}; this prevents the use of {{Taxon list}}, so use {{au}} appropriately. Heterotypic, dubious, or fungal anamorphic/teleomorphic synonyms may be listed separately if needed.

Use |synonyms_ref= to give references for the synonym list, for example: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto; font-size:80%"> | synonyms_ref = </syntaxhighlight>

Type species

When the type species of a genus (or larger grouping) is known, the |type_species= and |type_species_authority= can be used.

For botanical entries, i.e. names under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), the currently accepted name in the genus should be used. The term "type species" does not occur in the ICN, but is used here for convenience. The Index Nominum Genericorum is a useful source of information and can be used as a reference.

For animal entries, i.e. names under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), the type species should be the original binomial name of the type species, but linked to its current article, and the authority should be plain (no parentheses). See Mirza for a type species example.

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto"> | type_species = | type_species_authority = </syntaxhighlight>

This follows ICZN Recommendation 67B; be aware that this means the taxon used by the genus' original author—even if it is now invalid, e.g. a junior synonym. Ideally, it should only be used if the genus' original description can be verified first-hand. As per the following example given by the ICZN:

Astacus marinus Fabricius, 1775, one of the nominal species originally included in the decapod crustacean genus Homarus Weber, 1795, was subsequently designated by Fowler (1912) as the type species of Homarus. The type species is, and should be cited as, Astacus marinus Fabricius, 1775. Astacus marinus Fabricius is currently synonymized with Cancer gammarus Linnaeus, 1758, but the latter is not the type species of Homarus and should not be cited as such. If mention of the type species is required it should be made in some such manner as "Type species Astacus marinus Fabricius, 1775, a junior synonym of Cancer gammarus Linnaeus, 1758"; or "Type species Astacus marinus Fabricius, 1775, now regarded as a synonym of Homarus gammarus (Linnaeus, 1758)".

If you do not completely understand what this all means, please do not use this parameter. Instead, if possible denote the type species in the species listing, for example with a

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">(type species)</syntaxhighlight>

after the species' (currently valid) name.

Italic page titles

If the value of |genus=, |species=, or |binomial= is italicized and exactly matches the title of the page, and |name= is unspecified, the taxobox and page title will be italicized automatically. If necessary, it is also possible to force the page title to display in italics using the {{Italic title}} template.

If the |name= parameter is present, then the taxobox will display whatever is in |name=; the page title will NOT be italicized unless {{italic title}} is used.

Complete blank template

This section gives all parameters in the order that they will appear in the taxobox. No taxobox should use all of these. Keep it short! Note that parameters in this template are case-sensitive.

name Temporal range: fossil range
image alt
image caption
image2 alt
image2 caption
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Virus classification (status of classification)
Group:	virus group
(unranked):	unranked superdomain unranked superdomain authority
Superdomain:	superdomain
Domain:	domain domain authority
Superkingdom:	superregnum superregnum authority
(unranked):	unranked regnum unranked regnum authority
Kingdom:	regnum regnum authority
Subkingdom:	subregnum subregnum authority
Superdivision:	superdivisio superdivisio authority
Superphylum:	superphylum superphylum authority
(unranked):	unranked divisio unranked divisio authority
Division:	divisio divisio authority
(unranked):	unranked phylum unranked phylum authority
Phylum:	phylum phylum authority
Subdivision:	subdivisio subdivisio authority
Subphylum:	subphylum subphylum authority
Infraphylum:	infraphylum infraphylum authority
Microphylum:	microphylum microphylum authority
Nanophylum:	nanophylum nanophylum authority
Superclass:	superclassis superclassis authority
(unranked):	unranked classis unranked classis authority
Class:	classis classis authority
(unranked):	unranked subclassis unranked subclassis authority
Subclass:	subclassis subclassis authority
(unranked):	unranked infraclassis unranked infraclassis authority
Infraclass:	infraclassis infraclassis authority
Magnorder:	magnordo magnordo authority
Superorder:	superordo superordo authority
(unranked):	unranked ordo unranked ordo authority
Order:	ordo ordo authority
Suborder:	subordo subordo authority
Infraorder:	infraordo infraordo authority
Parvorder:	parvordo parvordo authority
Division:	zoodivisio zoodivisio authority
Section:	zoosectio zoosectio authority
Subsection:	zoosubsectio zoosubsectio authority
(unranked):	unranked superfamilia unranked superfamilia authority
Superfamily:	superfamilia superfamilia authority
Family:	familia familia authority
Subfamily:	subfamilia subfamilia authority
Supertribe:	supertribus supertribus authority
(unranked):	unranked tribus unranked tribus authority
Tribe:	tribus tribus authority
Subtribe:	subtribus subtribus authority
Alliance:	alliance alliance authority
(unranked):	unranked genus genus authority
Genus:	genus genus authority
Subgenus:	subgenus subgenus authority
Section:	sectio sectio authority
Subsection:	subsectio subsectio authority
Series:	series series authority
Subseries:	subseries subseries authority
Species group:	species group species group authority
Species subgroup:	species subgroup species subgroup authority
Species complex:	species complex species complex authority
Species:	species species authority
Subspecies:	subspecies subspecies authority
Variety:	variety variety authority
Form:	forma forma authority
Binomial name
binomial binomial authority
Trinomial name
trinomial trinomial authority
Type genus
type genus type genus authority
Type species
type species type species authority
Type strain
type strain
subdivision ranks
subdivision
Diversity
diversity
range map alt
range map caption
binomial2 binomial2 authority
range map2 alt
range map2 caption
binomial3 binomial3 authority
range map3 alt
range map3 caption
binomial4 binomial4 authority
range map4 alt
range map4 caption
Synonyms
synonyms

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto">

Taxobox
Scientific classification

</syntaxhighlight>

All parameters

The full list of parameters is illustrated inside the infobox above, in the "Complete blank template".

Parameters for Template:Taxobox

Parameter	Usage
color_as	color code
name	name defaults to {{PAGENAME}}
status	conservation status code
status_system	status-system type
status_ref	status reference
regnum	(standard) kingdom name
phylum	(standard) phylum name
classis	(standard) class name
ordo	(standard) order name
familia	(standard) family name
genus	(standard) genus name
species	(standard) species name
fossil_range	(as shown at top of box)
image	(as shown in box)
image_upright	(as shown in box)
image_alt	(as shown in box)
image_caption	(as shown in box)
image2	(as shown in box)
image2_upright	(as shown in box)
image2_alt	(as shown in box)
image2_caption	(as shown in box)
classification_status	(as shown in box)
virus_group	(as shown in box)
superdomain	(as shown in box)
superdomain_authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_superdomain	(as shown in box)
unranked_superdomain_ authority	(as shown in box)
domain	(as shown in box)
domain_authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_regnum	(as shown in box)
unranked_regnum_authority	(as shown in box)
superregnum	(as shown in box)
superregnum_authority	(as shown in box)
regnum_authority	(as shown in box)
subregnum	(as shown in box)
subregnum_authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_phylum	(as shown in box)
unranked_phylum_authority	(as shown in box)
superdivisio	(as shown in box)
superdivisio_authority	(as shown in box)
superphylum	(as shown in box)
superphylum_authority	(as shown in box)
divisio	(as shown in box)
divisio authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_divisio	(as shown in box)
unranked_divisio_authority	(as shown in box)
phylum_authority	(as shown in box)
subdivisio	(as shown in box)
subdivisio_authority	(as shown in box)
subphylum	(as shown in box)
subphylum_authority	(as shown in box)
infraphylum	(as shown in box)
infraphylum_authority	(as shown in box)
microphylum	(as shown in box)
microphylum_authority	(as shown in box)
nanophylum	(as shown in box)
nanophylum_authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_classis	(as shown in box)
unranked_classis_authority	(as shown in box)
superclassis	(as shown in box)
superclassis_authority	(as shown in box)
classis_authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_subclassis	(as shown in box)
unranked_subclassis_authority	(as shown in box)
subclassis	(as shown in box)
subclassis_authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_infraclassis	(as shown in box)
unranked_infraclassis_authority	(as shown in box)
infraclassis	(as shown in box)
infraclassis_authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_ordo	(as shown in box)
unranked_ordo_authority	(as shown in box)
magnordo	(as shown in box)
magnordo_authority	(as shown in box)
superordo	(as shown in box)
superordo_authority	(as shown in box)
ordo_authority	(as shown in box)
subordo	(as shown in box)
subordo_authority	(as shown in box)
infraordo	(as shown in box)
infraordo_authority	(as shown in box)
parvordo	(as shown in box)
parvordo_authority	(as shown in box)
zoodivisio	(as shown in box)
zoodivisio_authority	(as shown in box)
zoosectio	(as shown in box)
zoosectio_authority	(as shown in box)
zoosubsectio	(as shown in box)
zoosubsectio_authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_superfamilia	(as shown in box)
unranked_superfamilia_authority	(as shown in box)
superfamilia	(as shown in box)
superfamilia_authority	(as shown in box)
familia_authority	(as shown in box)
subfamilia	(as shown in box)
subfamilia_authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_tribus	(as shown in box)
unranked_tribus_authority	(as shown in box)
supertribus	(as shown in box)
supertribus_authority	(as shown in box)
tribus	(as shown in box)
tribus_authority	(as shown in box)
subtribus	(as shown in box)
subtribus_authority	(as shown in box)
alliance	(as shown in box)
alliance_authority	(as shown in box)
unranked_genus	(as shown in box)
unranked_genus_authority	(as shown in box)
genus_authority	(as shown in box)
subgenus	(as shown in box)
subgenus_authority	(as shown in box)
sectio	(as shown in box)
sectio_authority	(as shown in box)
subsectio	(as shown in box)
subsectio_authority	(as shown in box)
series	(as shown in box)
series_authority	(as shown in box)
subseries	(as shown in box)
subseries_authority	(as shown in box)
species_group	(as shown in box)
species_group_authority	(as shown in box)
species_subgroup	(as shown in box)
species_subgroup_authority	(as shown in box)
species_complex	(as shown in box)
species_complex_authority	(as shown in box)
species_authority	(as shown in box)
subspecies	(as shown in box)
subspecies_authority	(as shown in box)
variety	(as shown in box)
variety_authority	(as shown in box)
forma	(as shown in box)
forma_authority	(as shown in box)
diversity_ref	(as shown in box)
diversity	(as shown in box)
diversity_link	(as shown in box)
binomial	(as shown in box)
binomial_authority	(as shown in box)
trinomial	(as shown in box)
trinomial_authority	(as shown in box)
type_genus	(as shown in box)
type_genus_authority	(as shown in box)
type_species	(as shown in box)
type_species_authority	(as shown in box)
subdivision	(as shown in box)
subdivision_ranks	(as shown in box)
type_strain	(as shown in box)
range_map	1st map, bottom of box
range_map_upright	1st map scaling = 0.9 i.e. 90% of default size
range_map_alt	1st map ALT= text
range_map_caption	1st caption, under picture
binomial2	(as shown in box)
binomial2_authority	(as shown in box)
range_map2	2nd map in box
range_map2_upright	2nd map scaling = 0.9
range_map2_alt	2nd map ALT= text
range_map2_caption	2nd map caption
binomial3	(as shown in box)
binomial3_authority	(as shown in box)
range_map3	3rd map in box
range_map3_upright	3rd map scaling = 0.9
range_map3_alt	3rd map ALT= text
range_map3_caption	3rd maq caption
binomial4	(as shown in box)
binomial4_authority	(as shown in box)
range_map4	4th map in box
range_map4_upright	4th map scaling = 0.9
range_map4_alt	4th map ALT= text
range_map4_caption	4th map caption
synonyms_ref	reference for synonyms
synonyms	(as at bottom of box)

Articles lacking taxoboxes

For articles lacking taxoboxes, add Template:Missing-taxobox to the talk page. This may be done by typing {{Missing-taxobox}} or {{needtaxobox}} at the top of the talk page.

Microformat

This template emits a "species" (or "biota") microformat.

The microformat is created by the use of class="biota", and classes for individual taxonomic ranks, such as class="domain" in a span around {{{domain}}} (full list). Please do not change or remove those classes other than as part of development of the microformat. For background information, see microformats on Wikipedia and the microformat specification.

Template Data

This is the TemplateData for this template used by TemplateWizard, VisualEditor and other tools. See a monthly parameter usage report for Template:Taxobox in articles based on its TemplateData.

TemplateData for Taxobox

An infobox for plants, animals and other biological taxa

Template parameters

This template prefers block formatting of parameters.

Parameter		Description	Type	Status
Name	name	For plants, see [[Wikipedia:Naming conventions (flora)]]. For all other living things, the name should be the most common vernacular name, when one is in widespread use, and a scientific name otherwise.	String	optional
Fossil range	fossil_range	The stratigraphic range for groups known as fossils. E.g. [[Cambrian]]–[[Permian]] or {{fossil range|Cambrian|Permian}} to give a chart. Use 'Recent' for extant taxa and 'Holocene' for Late Quaternary extinctions.	String	optional
Image	image	An image to use, do not include the 'File:' part of the image file name.	File	suggested
Image Width	image_width	(Deprecated) Width to display the image at. Should not normally be set. e.g. 320px	String	deprecated
Image Upright scale	image_upright	Scale to display the image at. e.g. 1.1	String	optional
Image alt text	image_alt	Alt text which describes the image to someone who can't see it	String	optional
Image caption	image_caption	Caption displayed under the image	String	suggested
Image caption alignment	image_caption_align	Alignment of the caption displayed under the image, e.g. left. Should not normally be set.	String	deprecated
Conservation status	status	The conservation status code: 'secure', domesticated 'DOM', Least Concern 'LC', Lower Risk—Least Concern 'LR/lc', Near Threatened 'NT', Lower Risk—Near Threatened 'LR/nt', Lower Risk—Conservation Dependent 'LR/cd', Vulnerable 'VU', Endangered 'EN', Critically Endangered 'CR', Possibly Extinct 'PE', Extinct in the wild 'EW', Extinct 'EX', Data deficient 'DD', Not evaluated 'NE',Fossil 'fossil', Prehistoric 'pre', 'See text', Lower Risk 'LR'	String	optional
Conservation status system	status_system	System used for Conservation status: 'IUCN3.1', 'IUCN2.3', 'EPBC' etc. Required if status given.	String	optional
Conservation status reference	status_ref	Reference for status <ref>{{Cite journal|...}}</ref>	String	optional
Year of extinction	extinct	Year of extinction, if known	String	optional
Virus group	virus_group	Viruses not placed in taxa above the rank of order, instead a virus group is used, given by a Roman numeral from I to VII	String	optional
Unranked superdomain	unranked_superdomain	For each major taxon you can add an unranked entry to the taxobox. The entry unranked X appears above rank X	String	deprecated
Superdomain	superdomain	This and other minor ranks should only be used when they are important to understanding the classification of the taxon described in the article	String	deprecated
Superdomain Authority	superdomain_authority	The authority used for this rank. Every rank has a rank authority field which are not currently listed	String	deprecated
Domain	domain	Domain for Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya	String	optional
Superkingdom	superregnum	no description	String	optional
Unranked kingdom	unranked_regnum	no description	String	optional
Kingdom	regnum	Kingdom: [[Animalia]], [[Plantae]], [[Fungi]], other taxa may want to use domain or other ranks instead	String	optional
Subkingdom	subregnum	no description	String	optional
Superdivision	superdivisio	no description	String	optional
Unranked division	unranked_divisio	For flowering plants using the APG IV system this should be set to [[Angiosperms]] rather than using division/divisio	String	optional
Division	divisio	Division in botany, e.g. [[Bryophyta]]. Not for flowering plants using the APG III system	String	optional
Superphylum	superphylum	no description	String	optional
Unranked phylum	unranked_phylum	no description	String	optional
Phylum	phylum	Phylum in zoology, eg [[Chordata]] for chordates	String	optional
Subphylum	subphylum	no description	String	optional
Infraphylum	infraphylum	no description	String	optional
Microphylum	microphylum	no description	String	optional
Nanophylum	nanophylum	no description	String	optional
Superclass	superclassis	no description	String	optional
Unranked class	unranked_classis	For flowering plants using the APG IV system this should be used rather than class/classis	String	optional
Class	classis	Class/classis taxonomic rank	String	optional
Unranked subclass	unranked_subclassis	no description	String	optional
Subclass	subclassis	no description	String	optional
Unranked infraclass	unranked_infraclassis	no description	String	optional
Infraclass	infraclassis	no description	String	optional
Superorder	superordo	no description	String	optional
Unranked order	unranked_ordo	Generally used for flowering plants using the APG IV system	String	optional
Order	ordo	Order/ordo taxonomic rank	String	optional
subordo	subordo	no description	String	optional
infraordo	infraordo	no description	String	optional
Unranked Superfamily	unranked_superfamilia	no description	String	optional
Superfamily	superfamilia	no description	String	optional
Family	familia	Family/familia taxonomic rank	String	optional
Subfamily	subfamilia	no description	String	optional
supertribus	supertribus	no description	String	deprecated
unranked tribe	unranked_tribus	no description	String	optional
Tribe	tribus	no description	String	optional
Subtribe	subtribus	no description	String	optional
Unranked genus	unranked_genus	no description	String	deprecated
Genus	genus	Genus taxonomic rank, in italics, e.g. ''[[Homo]]''	String	optional
Genus authority	genus_authority	no description	String	optional
Subgenus	subgenus	no description	String	optional
Section	sectio	Used in botany, use zoosectio in zoology	String	optional
Subsection	subsectio	Used in botany, use zoosubsectio in zoology	String	optional
Series	series	no description	String	optional
Subseries	subseries	no description	String	optional
Species group	species_group	no description	String	optional
species subgroup	species_subgroup	no description	String	optional
species complex	species_complex	no description	String	optional
Species	species	Species taxonomic rank. Should be given in abbreviated forms and in italics, e.g. ''H. sapiens''.	String	optional
Binomial	binomial	Full binomial name of taxa, In full form with italics, e.g. ''Salix alba'' var. ''caerulea''	String	optional
Binomial authority	binomial_authority	Binomial authority using appropriate conventions, eg [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]] (for plants), [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1761 (for animals)	String	optional
subspecies	subspecies	no description	String	optional
variety	variety	no description	String	deprecated
form	forma	Used in botany, not in zoology	String	optional
trinomial	trinomial	The full trinomial name for subspecies, it should generally be in italics.	String	optional
trinomial authority	trinomial_authority	The authority for a trinomial.	String	optional
Range map	range_map	Map of range	String	optional
Range map width	range_map_width	Width to display range map. Should not normally be set. e.g. 320px	String	deprecated
Range map alt text	range_map_alt	Alt text describing the range in words	String	optional
Range map caption	range_map_caption	Caption/key for the range map	String	optional
Magnorder	magnordo	no description	String	optional
parvordo	parvordo	no description	String	optional
zoodivision	zoodivisio	Used in zoology, a different rank to the division used in botany.	String	optional
zoosection	zoosectio	Used in zoology, a different rank to the section used in botany.	String	optional
zoosubsection	zoosubsectio	Used in zoology, a different rank to the subsection used in botany.	String	optional
alliance	alliance	no description	String	deprecated
Synonyms	synonyms	A list of synonyms for a species, e.g. ''species1'' {{small|1=Authority1}}<br/> ''species2'' {{small|1=Authority2}}	String	optional
Synonyms ref	synonyms_ref	References for the synonym lists, e.g.<ref>Smith and Jones, 2009, p. 5</ref>	String	optional
Type species	type_species	The original name of the species that was initially used to describe the genus, without regard to its present-day nomenclature.	String	optional
Type species authority	type_species_authority	Authority for the type species, don't use parenthesis.	String	optional
Classification status	classification_status	Status of the scientific classification, e.g. disputed. Only use when the scientific classification text would be misleading without it.	String	optional
Subdivision ranks	subdivision_ranks	Rank used for sub-divisions of this taxa, e.g. 'Families'	String	optional
Subdivision	subdivision	List of sub divisions of this taxa, e.g. [[Family1]]<br/> [[Family2]]<br/> [[Family3]]	String	optional
Image 2	image2	A second image, only use in rare circumstances.	String	optional
Image 2 Width	image2_width	Deprecated. Width of the second image	Number	deprecated
Image 2 Upright scale	image2_upright	Scale of the second image	Number	optional
Image 2 alt text	image2_alt	Alt text which describes the second image to someone who can't see it	String	optional
Image 2 caption	image2_caption	Caption to display under the second image	String	optional
Binomial2	binomial2	Second binomial name of taxa, only used in rare circumstances	String	optional
Binomial authority 2	binomial2_authority	Authority of second binomial	String	optional
Binomial3	binomial3	Third binomial name of taxa, only used in rare circumstances	String	optional
Binomial authority 3	binomial3_authority	Authority of third binomial	String	optional
Binomial4	binomial4	Fourth binomial name of taxa, only used in rare circumstances	String	optional
Binomial authority 4	binomial4_authority	Authority of fourth binomial	String	optional
Range map 2	range_map2	Second map of range	String	optional
Range map 2 width	range_map2_width	Width of second range map	String	deprecated
Range map 2 alt text	range_map2_alt	Alt text describing the second range map	String	optional
Range map 2 caption	range_map2_caption	Caption/key for the second range map	String	optional
Range map 3	range_map3	Third map of range	String	optional
Range map 3 width	range_map3_width	Width of third range map	String	deprecated
Range map 3 alt text	range_map3_alt	Alt text describing the third range map	String	optional
Range map 3 caption	range_map3_caption	Caption/key for the third range map	String	optional
Range map 4	range_map4	Forth map of range	String	optional
Range map 4 width	range_map4_width	Width of forth range map	String	deprecated
Range map 4 alt text	range_map4_alt	Alt text describing the forth range map	String	optional
Range map 4 caption	range_map4_caption	Caption/key for the fourth range map	String	optional
color_as	color_as	Taxon defining the taxobox color if needed (normally not as it is set automatically) Example Animalia	String	deprecated
color	color	no description	String	deprecated

Supporting templates

• Template:Taxobox/core
  • Template:Taxobox/species
  • Template:Taxonomy
• Module:Autotaxobox
• Template:Taxobox colour
  • Template:Sets taxobox colour
  • Template:Taxobox/Error colour
• Template:Taxobox name
• Template:Taxonbar/candidate

Tracking categories

Hidden category added by {{Taxobox}}:

• Category:Taxoboxes using extinct parameters (0)

Hidden categories added by {{Taxobox/core}}:

• Category:Articles using diversity taxobox (0)
• Category:Articles with 'species' microformats (11)

Hidden categories added by {{Taxobox/species}}:

• Category:Taxoboxes with an unrecognised status system (0)
• Category:Taxoboxes needing a status system parameter (0)
• Category:Invalid conservation status (0)

Hidden categories added by {{Taxobox/Error colour}}:

• Category:Taxoboxes with the error color (0)

Hidden categories added by {{Taxonbar/candidate}}:

• Category:Taxobox articles missing a taxonbar (0)
• Category:Taxobox articles possibly missing a taxonbar (0)

See also

• Wikipedia:How to read a taxobox
• Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Infoboxes
• {{Paraphyletic group}}
• Automated taxobox system
  • {{Speciesbox}}
  • {{Automatic taxobox}}
• meta:Global-Wiki templates.

Notes

The above documentation is transcluded from Template:Taxobox/doc. (edit | history)
Editors can experiment in this template's sandbox (create | mirror) and testcases (create) pages.
Add categories to the /doc subpage. Subpages of this template.