Chapman Stick: Taxonomy

There are many classes within the phylum Musicaeinstrumentum. Although there was some controversy over the placement of the chapman stick, it is currently placed in the class Ligamendies. Some researchers still believe the stick should be placed in the class Impingoides. New research using DNA hybridization techniques is needed. The similarities to Impingoides have not gone unnoticed, and so the stick resides in the order Impingoligamends. This order also contains other difficult to classify species such as the Pianoforte. Sticks and other tapping guitar type instruments make up the family Tactussonitus. There are several genera inside this family, two of note are Chapmanus, and the closely related Stienbergerus. Although the members of these genera are physically distinct, some researchers have suggested all members belong to the genus Chapmanus. Within the genus Chapmanus exist several species. The genus includes the species decemligamen, grandis, mugio, decemgrandis, altus and dudecimaltus. Chapmanus decemligamen appears to be the oldest species, possessing the greatest genetic variation and number of subspecies. However, new subspecies are still being discovered.