Traits of the central nervous system have up to now played only a minor role in taxonomic practice. Based on the macromorphology of the brain in several mammalian orders, the present paper gives the methodological assumptions that should be taken in account when characteristics of the brain are used taxonomically. The conclusions that may be drawn from an analysis of such traits for a taxonomic division of certain orders are discussed. The extent to which some clearly anagenetic processes are taxonomically significant in the development of the central nervous system, as well as how the concepts of evolutionary and consequent genealogical systematics have impinged upon the taxonomic utilization of cerebral traits are also analysed.

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