Hövnísan Bio-Taxonomy Standards

Public biology taximetrics record
Property of the Royal Atheneum of Hövnís, Eörpe

Here at the Royal Atheneum of Hövnís, Eörpe, lifeforms are categorized primarily through phenetic taxonomy, which means that lifeforms are grouped by overall similarity – usually in morphology or other observable traits. The most common differentiations made are base composition, morphologic silhouette, prevalent observable traits, pedalism, sentience, and sapience.

Definition of Lifeform

Within the context of this documentation, a lifeform is defined as an entity that fulfills two or more of the following criteria: a) isn’t non-sapient b) isn’t non-sentient c) features a biochemistry d) doesn’t rely on explicit external input to function and operate.

Scientific Nomenclature

Scientific naming of lifeforms follows the same conventions as those of other objects categorized with taximetrics within other scientific fields. This commonly include a subjective descriptor in Latirönen accompanied with an affix that declares its rank within a taxonomic hierarchy.
The taxonomic name can consist of 8-21 parts ordered in a downward hierarchy ranging from the broadest distinguishing features down to the narrower and more specific distinguishing features. While our research database lists the full taxonomic hierarchy, our public archive will typically only list a lifeforms binomenclature, or binomen for short, which consists of its genus and species names.

Latirönen is a constructed language with origins dating back to the original human settlers, with many of its root words collected from recovered archeological data. It’s carefully curated by Dr. Eirin Kaldast.

— Notation by Dr. Tybulus Svilen

The Taxonomic Hierarchy

The taxonomic hierarchy features seven base levels, with up to two sublevels each (prefixed Sub- and Infra-).
The levels domain, sphere, division, and class feature a limited set of categories with fixed names for classifying lifeforms. Any additions to these need to have substantial scientific basis, and the process to have them formally accepted for use is usually long and thorough.
The levels order, family, genus, and species are more adaptable and diverse, based on narrowing the range of similarity down to near identical. The creation of a new group within each level usually only requires a well-formulated reasoning to be accepted. The inventor of the new grouping is responsible for naming it in Latirönen, and there’s a prevalence toward descriptive one. The only requirement is appending the correct suffix at the end.

Domain

Lifeforms were originally categorized into one of two domains based on whether they are of synthetic/artificial origin or not. As more species of unexplainable origin, composition and/or biochemistry were discovered, it was decided that this hierarchic level would be expanded with an additional domain to cover these.

Bionid

Includes all lifeforms that have developed as a result of natural evolution.

Synthid

Includes all lifeforms that are of synthetic origin.

Extrinsid

Includes all lifeforms of exotic and/or unknown composition and/or biochemistry.

Subdomain

Each domain can be divided into up to five subdomains that categorizes a lifeform’s verseness, or more simply explained, their origin. To date, the subdomains are Digitalia, Extradimensia, Extragalaxia, Intragalaxia and Virtualia.

Digitalia

Includes all lifeforms found within an enclosed digital, non-virtual system or network

Extradimensia

Includes all lifeforms found within an extradimensional space that is not the Realverse or a virtual space.

Extragalaxia

Includes all lifeforms found outside of the galaxy Rosepetal, either in the void or in other galaxies

Intragalaxia

Includes all lifeforms found within the galaxy Rosepetal.

Virtualia

Includes all lifeforms found within an enclosed virtual space.

Infradomain

Each domain is further divided based on a lifeform’s sapience and sentience. Sapience is loosely defined as the capacity to think and comprehend the world in an elaborated way, while sentience is defined as the capacity to experience subjective sensations and/or emotions.

Solsentiens

A lifeform that exhibits sentience but not sapience.

Semisapiens

A lifeform that exhibits semi-sapience alongside sentience.

Sapiens

A lifeform that exhibits sapience alongside sentience.

Suprasapiens

A lifeform that exhibits trans-sapience alongside sentience.

Parataxonomic Classes

These are groupings of lifeforms that aren’t recognized as official taxonomic categories and aren’t a part of the scientific nomenclature, but nonetheless commonly sees mention.

Metamorphality

This category groups lifeforms based on if they undergo metamorphosis at some stage during their life cycle or exhibits the ability to metamorph as a response to external or internal stimuli.

Invariable

This is considered the most common classification and means a lifeform won’t naturally undergo metamorphosis during any point of their lifespan.

Bitroph

If a lifeform undergoes metamorphosis between two different forms, regardless of whether it’s single-way or can also be reversed, they are considered a bitroph.

Dermatomorph

This is considered a lifeform that doesn’t exhibit the ability to undergo true metamorphosis but is still capable of changing their external appearance to some extend in response to external or internal stimuli.

Plasmoform

Also called true metamorph, these are a very rare type of lifeform that has a semi-solid, viscous, or liquid body that through external or internal stimuli is capable of editing its own DNA to such an extend as to mimic other lifeforms or objects.

Polytroph

If a lifeform undergoes metamorphosis between three or more different forms, regardless of whether it’s single-way or can also be reversed, they are considered a polytroph.

Hybritism

The increased popularity in bioengineering new lifeforms has led to this categorization seeing more use than before and has come to be included on many species’ entries.

Chimera

Comprised of a rare type of pedigree lifeform that have two or more genotypes.

Pedigree

Comprised of any lifeform that’s a purebred specimen of its species.

Simplex Hybrid

Comprised of lifeforms bred from two different species that are sterile and cannot further reproduce.

Speciate Hybrid

Comprised of lifeforms bred from two different species that are virile and can reproduce, either with one of its parent species or with other hybrids of its kind.

Peculiarity

A fairly new categorization that was submitted for inclusion in the taxonomic hierarchy but was rejected. It sometimes sees reference as it describes a number of peculiar traits that’s been observed in multiple species.

Caudric

This is the natural presence of multiple tails. To qualify for this categorization, it has to be quantified that the extra appendage(s) is in fact also a tail and not a tentacle, proboscis, or similar extremity.

Cornuric

This is the presence of wings of unclear or no apparent function. These can either be extra pairs of wings featured on an already avian lifeform, or they can be wings featured on a species with no known evolutionary history where ancestral species were avian. Proto wings as a result of adaption from avian to landbound are not considered cornuric.

Hydric

This is the natural presence of multiple heads. It’s considered the rarest of the different peculiar traits found naturally in a species. Only three species to date are known to be hydric.

Tauric

This is the natural presence of a repeating pectoral girdle or pelvic skeleton. This seems to most frequently occur in order to support multiple limbs in larger, multicellular species.

Sphere

Each domain is currently divided into three spheres each based on a number of more general characteristics.

Animalia

Bionid lifeforms that, with few exceptions, are multicellular, consume organic material, and are mobile are organized into this sphere.

Antumbra

Extrinsid lifeforms primarily found in the Darkverse are organized into this sphere.

Infomorpha

Code-based synthid lifeforms, usually confined to an enclosed system, network, or virtual space, are organized into this sphere.

Microba

Bionid lifeforms of typically microscopic size, that do not fit into the Animalia sphere, are categorized into this sphere.

Microta

Microscopic, physical synthid lifeforms are organized into this sphere.

Neronida

Extrinsid lifeforms theorized to be composed of dark matter or energy are organized into this sphere.

Photonida

Extrinsid lifeforms theorized to be composed primarily of photons are organized into this sphere.

Plantea

Bionid lifeforms that do not fit into the Animalia or Microba spheres, yet cannot be considered Extrinsid, are categorized into this sphere.

Suprata

Physical synthid lifeforms that are larger than microts are organized into this sphere.

Subsphere

Lifeforms can be further categorized into a subsphere based on their biochemistry. A complementary documentation explaining the most common forms of biochemistries in more detail is still under development.

Boronea

Boron-based lifeform with hydrogen cyanide (HCN) as its solvent.

Caramoea

Carbon-based lifeform with ammonia (NH₃) as its solvent.

Carydroea

Carbon-based lifeform with hydroxide (H₂O) as its solvent.

Repocontea

A lifeform of marrowblight-origin, with a largely unknown composition and biochemistry.

Silicea

Silicon-based lifeform.

Mechanida

Lifeforms that don't feature a biochemistry. Most commonly inorganic synthids that depend on fuel or power to function.

Infrasphere

Along with biochemistry lifeforms are typically also categorized based on their form of respiration under an infrasphere.

Aerobicoa

Lifeforms with an aerobic respiration system.

Anaerobicoa

Lifeforms with an anaerobic respiration system.

Anspiranoa

Lifeforms lacking a discernable respiration system.

Division

Each sphere is further divided into five divisions that focus on one of the broadest patters found in nature, called biological symmetry. It can be thought of as a balanced distribution of duplicate body parts or shapes within the body of a lifeform that’s always approximate rather than precise. This near repetition of a pattern can be either by reflection or rotation.

Asymetras

This division includes lifeforms that are either truly asymmetrical or feature partial symmetry breaking. A few lifeforms have developed true asymmetrical or symmetry breaking features as an important adaption. It should be noted that fluctuating asymmetry doesn’t qualify a lifeform to be categorized into this sphere.

Bilaterias

This division includes lifeforms that express bilateral symmetry, which means they contain a single plane of symmetry – typically along the sagittal plane – that divides the lifeforms into two roughly mirrored halves. This can also be called approximate reflectional symmetry.

Biradias

This division includes lifeforms that express both bilateral and radial symmetry in their morphological features (internal or external). A biradial lifeform can only be cut equally along two planes.

Icosahedras

This division includes lifeforms that express icosahedral symmetry, where the lifeform is made out of one or more sets of 60 subunits where each subunit has 20 faces – each face being an equilateral triangle – and 12 corners. This is most commonly observed in viruses.

Radialas

This division includes lifeforms that express radial symmetry, showing a repeating pattern around a central axis. They can typically be separated into several identical pieces when cut through the central point, much like the pieces of a cake. These lifeforms have no right and left sides but do have either a top and bottom surface or a front and a back.

Sphericas

This division includes lifeforms that express spherical symmetry, which means they have the ability to draw an endless, or great but finite, number of symmetry axes through their body. This generally translates to spherical symmetry being when a lifeform can be cut into two identical halves through any cut that runs through their center.

Subdivision

Lifeforms can be further categorized into a subdivision based on their posture, which describes how their body is supported by the appendages used for locomotion.

Dormires

Also called lying posture. The appendages the lifeform uses for locomotion are located on the sides of the body and move alongside it. If the lifeform is terrestrial, their body drags along the ground and isn’t lifted from it by their appendages.

Extenires

Also called sprawling posture. The appendages the lifeform uses for locomotion are located on the sides of the body with the elbow held in alignment with its center, often giving the impression of crouching or squatting. The body remains close to the ground but doesn’t touch it.

Oretires

Also called semi-erect posture. The appendages the lifeform uses for locomotion are located slightly closer to the underside of the body, still keeping a noticeable bend at the elbow but not as distinctively much as in the sprawling posture.

Rectires

Also called erect posture. The appendages the lifeform uses for locomotion are located either in similar position as the semi-erect posture or can be further below the body. The main difference is that the elbow is close to straight, holding the body aloft much higher than the semi-erect posture.

Columrectires

Alo called pillar-erect posture. The appendages the lifeform uses for locomotion are located directly beneath it, in a similar straight positioning as the erect posture.

Aliqires

The lifeform lacks appendages or it doesn’t use its appendages for locomotion, so it wouldn’t effectively have a posture.

Infradivision

Lifeforms can be further categorized into an infradivision based on the number of limbs they exhibit that are used for locomotion, so-called pedalism.

Inmaculatus

The lifeform has no appendages that it uses for locomotion, either because it uses an alternate method of locomotion that doesn’t require them or it’s static.

Unipedus

The lifeform utilizes a single appendage for locomotion. Hopping, leaping, or crawling are the most common form of movements for unipeds.

Bipedus

The lifeform utilizes a pair of appendages for locomotion. Most lifeforms with bipedalism walk with their body semi-vertically or vertically aligned.

Tripedus

The lifeform utilizes three appendages for locomotion. Some lifeforms may put weight on their tail while resting but otherwise move using two limbs, but these don't qualify for tripedalism.

Quadpedus

The lifeform utilizes four appendages for locomotion, most commonly arranged in pairs referred to as the forelimbs and hindlimbs.

Pentapedus

The lifeform utilizes five appendages for locomotion. This is considered one of the rarest forms of pedalism and tend to only occur in radial- or biradial-symmetry lifeforms.

Hexapedus

The lifeform utilizes six appendages for locomotion, most commonly arranged in pairs with even spacing.

Octopedus

The lifeform utilizes eight appendages for locomotion, most commonly either arranged in pairs with even spacing or arranged radially around a central point.

Myriapedus

The lifeform utilizes ten or more appendages for locomotion, most commonly either arranged in pairs with even spacing or arranged radially around a central point.

Class

The last of the major taxonomic levels organizes lifeforms based on their morphologic silhouette. Due to the size of this level we have chosen to not list the various categories in this documentation and instead they can be found in their own external documentation.

Order > Species

The remaining taxonomic levels serve to further distinguish and categorize species based on morphology and function. Naming of categories in these levels will primarily be subjective descriptors with an identifying suffix that’s unique for each level beneath each respective sphere. Please refer to the chart below for the suffix nomenclature.

Sphere	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	-esea	-idae	-ensis	-is/-s
Antumbra	-elus	-ocaru	-ura	-u/-tu
Infomorpha	-opcea	-iroa	-eres	-er/-r
Microba	-ales	-aceae	-erum	-um/-m
Microta	-izora	-azae	-zoa	-id/-d
Neronida	-otum	-aenoa	-zua	-a/-da
Photonida	-iata	-enoea	-aria	-a/-ta
Plantea	-phyces	-oideae	-inae	-as/-s
Suprata	-etel	-iratum	-aesis	-ix/-x