University in the US. It commemorates the birth on May 23 1707 of Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who devised the modern system of animal and plant classification. A committee of international scientists made the selection based on "bizarre and unusual" traits that make certain species stand out. Institute director Professor Quentin Wheeler said: "The top 10 is intended to bring attention to the biodiversity crisis and the unsung species explorers and museums who continue a 250-year tradition of discovering and describing the millions of kinds of plants, animals and microbes with whom we share this planet. Source: The Coming Crisis
