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PLoS Biology Issue Image | Vol. 10(10) October 2012

Exploring the tree of life with a fractal-based viewer.

The zooming concept of OneZoom, a new tree viewer, is demonstrated here with a phylogenetic tree of 5,020 mammal species. The colors of the leaves in this visualization indicate the degree to which that species is at risk from extinction according to the IUCN Red List. The blue label shows where human beings are—the only green leaf amongst a sea of red leaves. This is because we are not under threat of extinction, whereas all our closest relatives are either endangered or critically endangered. See Rosindell and Harmon (e1001406) in this issue.

Image Credit: James Rosindell, Imperial College London

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Exploring the tree of life with a fractal-based viewer.

The zooming concept of OneZoom, a new tree viewer, is demonstrated here with a phylogenetic tree of 5,020 mammal species. The colors of the leaves in this visualization indicate the degree to which that species is at risk from extinction according to the IUCN Red List. The blue label shows where human beings are—the only green leaf amongst a sea of red leaves. This is because we are not under threat of extinction, whereas all our closest relatives are either endangered or critically endangered. See Rosindell and Harmon (e1001406) in this issue.

Image Credit: James Rosindell, Imperial College London

https://doi.org/10.1371/image.pbio.v10.i10.g001