"Numerical ranks" to improve biological nomenclature of higher groups

Abstract

Simple method to improve traditional approaches to name taxa of higher ranks has been proposed. Instead of base name + postfixes (which vary between codes of nomenclature and sometimes not standardized at all), use numerical prefixes, where numbers designate the rank of taxon, from lowest (species = 1) to highest (kingdom = 7). This "numerical ranks" method is not only more simple and straightforward then current practice, but also easy to extend for numerous additional uses. There is a hope that numerical ranks will facilitate creation of typified names for all higher-level taxomonic groups.