Identification

It is useful to consider this topic from three points of view -

• At one extreme, identification to genera and species of a conventional taxonomic system or, if necessary, a revision of an existing system.
• At the other extreme, identification by a string of character-states and their variability, without the use of any taxonomic system and with no implications regarding relationships.
• An intermediate position, using paleotaxa as proposed by the late Norman F. Hughes. Paleotaxa are independent of any formal taxonomic system, but can be organized into a system if this is desired for a particular purpose.