Domain (Taxonomy): Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 02:04, 20 January 2026
In Continuum taxonomy, a Domain is the highest biological rank and defines the **fundamental substrate of life**—what an organism is made of at its most basic level.
Domain answers the question: What is this life composed of? It precedes all considerations of structure, organization, or complexity.
Unlike classical terrestrial taxonomy, which conflates chemistry and structure, the Continuum framework separates material composition (Domain) from organizational strategy (Architecture), allowing taxonomy to scale across radically different forms of life.
Definition
A Domain classifies life according to:
- primary material or energetic substrate
- chemical or non-chemical bonding rules
- metabolic or energetic constraints
- physical interaction limits with other forms of life
Domain does not describe intelligence, anatomy, or internal organization. Those traits are defined at the Architecture level and below.
Recognized Domains
The Continuum recognizes three primary Domains of life:
Carbonia
Life based on carbon-centered organic chemistry.
- Carbon–hydrogen molecular frameworks
- Biochemical metabolism
- Cellular or pseudo-cellular systems
- High adaptability and evolutionary diversity
Carbonia includes nearly all terrestrial life and the majority of naturally evolved organisms across the Continuum.
Lithoid
Life based on mineral, crystalline, or silicate substrates.
- Crystal lattices or mineral matrices
- Growth via accretion or crystallization
- Extreme resistance to pressure, radiation, and heat
- Very long lifespans
Lithoid life commonly arises on high-pressure worlds or planets with limited organic chemistry.
Luxiva
Life composed primarily of energy, light, or aetheric structures.
- Photonic, electromagnetic, or resonance-based coherence
- Sustenance via radiation or field interaction
- Minimal distinction between body and environment
- Often non-corporeal to material observers
Luxiva life frequently emerges in stellar, aetheric, or high-energy environments.
Position in Taxonomy
Domain is the foundational rank of biological classification.
All organisms must be assigned a Domain before any further classification is meaningful.