Species Concepts in Biology

Priv.-Doz. Dr. habil. Frank E. ZachosNatural History Museum ViennaMammal CollectionBurgring 71010 Vienna, AustriaTel. +43-(0)1-52177-550Fax +43-(0)1-52177-234frank.zachos@nhm-wien.ac.at

• Introduction to the species problem.- A brief history of species concepts and the species problem.- The metaphysics, or ontology, of species: classes, natural kinds or invidivuals?-An annotated list of species concepts.- Species concepts and beyond – selected topics relating to the species problem.-      Species delimitation: discrete names in a continuous world with fuzzy boundaries.- The practical relevance of species concepts and the species problem.- A brief summary of the book.- Glossary.- References.- Index.

“Species Concepts in Biology is an efficient and effective book that neatly summarizes several centuries of progress on the species problem. Impressively, it is also a good read.” (Bryan C. Carstens, The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol. 93 (1), March, 2018)“Zachos is primarily a biologist rather than a philosopher, and so he has tried to write a book for biologists about a biological topic but with a philosophical flavor. He has certainly succeeded at this. … As biologists, we impose species boundaries and phylogenetic trees onto this fuzziness, and then we write an apparently endless series of books about it. Zachos’ book is one of the better ones, especially as an introduction to the topic … .” (David A. Morrison, Systematic Biology, February, 2017)“The book … gives an excellent overview on the historical, philosophical and practical aspects of what is usually called ‘the species problem’. It is a book that I fully recommend for everyone dealingwith the species concept, as students, taxonomists or philosophers. … the compact overview presented by Frank Zachos is among the best compilations I read and I fully recommend it to all those who want to learn about species and their own views on it.” (Nikolaus U. Szucsich, Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Vol. 119, January, 2017)