Haeckel developed his tree over almost 1,000 pages, basing it on palaeontological, embryological and systemic data — a precursor to modern biology's phylogenetic trees.

As he was delving into the phylogenetic tree of parasites, Platt had been conducting research on his own family history.

Perhaps because the species lacked phylogenetic, cultural or ecological significance, responsible agencies seemed to treat it as inconsequential.