Some theoretical aspects of the systematic study of fossil ostracods (Arthropoda, Crustacea, Ostracoda) in the context of species problems in palaeontology

Abstract

Theoretical contributions into the systematics and taxonomy of fossil ostracods conducted according to unified methodological stands have resolved some key problems of paleontology. For example, this is a problem of species and its derivatives, namely the identification of species, the estimation of the taxonomic weight of morphological characters, the determination of diagnostic characters of different taxonomic ranks, and taxa diagnoses. The unification of the terminology and the formalization of morphological description of fossil shells made it possible to estimate the taxonomic weight of morphological elements. A scheme to identify the rank of taxonomic characters (pyramid principle) has been developed. A unified terminological dictionary has been prepared to describe the morphological elements of ostracod shells in detail.