the concept of rank in ethnobiological classification: some evidence from Aguaruna folk botany

Data from Aguaruna Jívaro folk botany provide evidence for the concept of rank in ethnobiological classification, Aguaruna plant taxa can be naturally accommodated into one of six proposed ethnobiological ranks which have been called kingdom (the unique beginner), life form, intermediate, generic, specific, and varietal. The taxonomic, biological, nomenclatural, and psychological characteristics associated with taxa of each rank are described. These data tend to support the hypothesis that the concept of rank is fundamental to all systems of folk biological classification .