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Human beings are classified as Eukarya Animalia Chordata Mammalia Primates Hominidae Homo sapien (sapien). The most important being the last three parts of the name, the genus, species, and subspecies.
Homo sapien (sapien)
Genus species (sub-species)
There's not enough variation among H. sapien to require more than one sub-species, and H. sapien is believed to be the only species of the genus Homo that is not extinct.
There is a lot of debate amongst scientists as to what makes something a species. Most agree that if two individuals can produce fertile offspring, then they are the same species. For example: horses and donkeys can have offspring, mules, but mules cannot produce offspring with horses, donkeys, or other mules; so horses and donkeys are not members of the same species. Another example: pugs and beagles can have offspring, puggles, and puggles can produce offspring with pugs, beagles, or other puggles; so pugs, beagles, and puggles are members of the same species.
In order to ground works of fiction in reality, many authors have given fictional creatures scientific names. Vampires are sometimes called Homo nocturnus. Mutants like the X-Men are classified as Homo superior in the Marvel universe.
I have decided to create a list of fictional races and name them using binomial nomenclature. The biggest problem I have run into is that most fictional/fantasy races are able to easily produce fertile offspring with regular humans. The fictional trait, like a mutant power, is often passed on much like eye color or genetic diseases where one offspring may have mutant but another offspring may not have mutant powers. This suggests that Homo superior is not a separate species from Homo sapien, but is just a Homo sapien with a certain gene being expressed. To avoid this argument, I am describing many fictional races as sub-species of Homo sapien, rather than a separate species. In this way, the genome of two sub-species can be so similar that speciation occurs just like gene expression.
Here are some fictional races, their scientific names, and any description I think might be relevant. Often the description will be from the perspective of a reality where these are actual races and creatures.
Human being
Homo sapien (sapien) - You and me.
Marvel universe mutant
Homo sapien (superior) - Magneto, Wolverine, and Cyclops. Anyone who was born with a mutant power, not someone who was mutated through science or magic. Spider-man and Captain Marvel are not H. sapien (superior).
Vampire
Homo sapien (nocturnus) - Many times vampirism inaccurately described as an affliction, not something that is genetic. Like H. sapien (superior), they have been described as a separate species. However, original Balkan folklore talks of a dhampir, an offspring of a human and a vampire. Most likely vampire mythology has morphed over the years into a super-natural affliction, rather than a race. Another common name for H. sapien (nocturnus) is vryloka. Members of H. sapien (nocturnus) have a nervous system that is critically damaged by enzymes found in plans of the genus Allium (like garlic) and by the element silver. H. sapien (sapien) soft tissue can be easily damaged by the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight, but H. sapien (nocturnus) soft tissue is damaged by the same radiation on an exponentially increased rate. Many other weaknesses that surround the nocturnus are usually just stories based on an isolated incident with a specific individual that have worked their way into the mythos.
Lycanthropes
Homo lycanthropus - Werewolves were the first observed lycanthropes and were first described as Homo sapien (lycanthropus). As more werefolk were identified, it was decided that lycanthropes should be grouped as their own species consisting of several subspecies. The species name decided on was lycanthropus, in honor of the first member of the species to be described. Like H. sapien (nocturnus), members of H. lycanthropus have nervous systems that are critically damaged by elemental silver and enzymes found in plants of the genus Aconitum (wolf's bane). There is little relationship between H. lycanthropus and the full moon, it is just more likely that an unfamiliar observer will spot a member of H. Lycanthropus with the aid of a bright moon. Lycanthropus can produce offspring with H. sapien (sapien), see Teen Wolf (1985).
Homo lycanthropus (lupus) - Werewolf
Homo lycanthropus (ursus) - Werebear
Homo lycanthropus (tigris) - Weretiger
Homo lycanthropus (rodentia) - Wererat
Wizards
Homo sapien (arcanix) - This subspecies has a poorly understood connection to what is described as magic. In truth, H. sapien (arcanix) is able to innately understand science on a level that gives them abilities that appear to be magical to other members of their genus. Some members of H. sapien (arcanix) train themselves in schools devoted to the magic-like level of science that they can achieve, some just let their raw power develop naturally and attribute it to a draconic ancestry. Many other species can have some connection to magical levels of science due to H. sapien (arcanix) being able to easily produce offspring with other species and remain dominate in the bloodline, but contributing very little to the morphology of the offspring.
Dwarves
Homo muradani - This species of short and rugged homonids are adapted to live in mountainous and subterranean environments. Different subspecies are adapted to specific environments.
Homo muradani (tyr) - Muls, these desert dwelling dwarves are believed to be the most closely related to H. sapien.
Homo muradani (scutum) - Shield Dwarf, these dwarves are found in cold northern climates.
Homo muradani (aurum) - Gold Dwarf, these expert miners are able to live with low amounts of oxygen and sunlight.
Homo muradani (muradani) - Common Dwarf, found in many parts of the world, these dwarves have thick cranial bones that result in restructured areas of the brain that are critical to self control.
More to come.
