1. INTRODUCTION
The word taxonomy is derived from the Greek word taxis
(=arrangement) and nomos (=law). It is concerned with describing and
naming the many kinds of organisms that exist today, those that have
been extinct for many, even millions of years and also those that are
become extinct. Taxonomy helps us to formulate methods for
conserving biodiversity. These methods are very effective when
working in an area where the animals are not well known. By studying
the major groups of known animals in an area, taxonomists can find out
of more about the environment and its protection. Thus, taxonomy
provides us with basic understanding about the components of
biodiversity which is necessary for effective decision-making about
conservation and sustainable use. Without taxonomists the natural
world cannot be documented. Taxonomy in the twenty first century will
be completely different than its past. Taxonomists do not forget their
past, but improve it by adopting more and more creative ways for
better understanding of the living world around us. The aim of modern
taxonomy is not only to describe, identify and arrange organisms in
convenient categories but also to understand their evolutionary
histories and mechanisms. Presently great attention is paid to the
subgrouping of the species, like sub species and populations. The old
morphological species is now called a biological one which also includes
ecological, ethological, genetical, biochemical and other characters. All
these new approaches have contributed a lot in explaining the true
structure of the species and its evolutionary position.

2. ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER
It is now a well established fact that every species has its own
niche in nature, differing from its nearest relatives in food preference,
breeding season, tolerance to various physical factors, etc. When two
closely related species coexist in the same general habitat, they avoid
fatal competition by their species-specific niche characteristics. The
closely related species are either found to live in different habitats or
places, in which case their ecological characteristics may be extremely
similar, or they share the same habitat and each having different type
of food or otherwise avoid interspecific competition. The larvae of
Drosophila mulleri and aldrichi though live simultaneously in the
decaying pulp of the fruits of the cactus Opuntia lindheimeri yet both
have specialities in their preference for certain yeasts and bacteria
(Wanger, 1944). Similarly, Anopheles maculipennis complex was also
broken in to six independent species on the basis of ecological
differences(Mayr, 1969).
Sl No species Habitat Water Type Hibernation
1 melanoon Rice fields Fresh water No
2 messeae Cool
standing
water
-do- Yes
3 maculipennis Cool running
water
-do- Yes
4 atroparruis Cool water Brackish No
5 labranchiae Mostly
warm water
-do- No
6 sacharovi Shallow
standing
water
Often
brackish
No

3. ETHOLOGICAL CHARACTER
Aldrovandi, a 16th century naturalist of Bologna classified birds on
the basis of ethological characteristics. Later, even Gilber White, an 18th
century naturalist of Selborne, separated three very similar sympatric
British bird species (Phylloscopus collybita, P.trochilus and P.siblilatrix)
using song patterns. The use of ethological characteristics in animal
taxonomy is now seriously felt. It is one of the most important sources
of taxonomic information. These characters are of great help in
separating closely related species. The comparative ethology has
proved very useful in improving the classification of birds, insects,
(especially crickets, bees and wasps, some beetles), frogs, fishes etc.
These characteristics play a great role as isolating mechanisms and
initiating new adaptations. The bee Anthidium and Dianthidium are
easily separated on the basis of materials used in the construction of
nests by their species which in the former genus are of cottony plant
fibres and in the latter of resinous plant exudations and sand or small
pebbles.
REFERENCE
1.GENETICS AND EVOLUTION - H.S BHAMRAH
2.ANIMAL TAXONOMY -DR.V.C.KAPOOR