If you want a phylogenetic tree navigator demo that will blow your mind, check out the extremely smooth hyperbolic tree demo from js_of_ocaml:

https://ocsigen.org/js_of_ocaml/2.6/files/hyperbolic/index.h...

I fantasize about this being applied to a more exhaustive tree of life. You could almost make a game out of it.

There's http://www.onezoom.org/ which also has a nicer interface.

Though it's good to see anyone experimenting with freely available biodiversity data. It's also my job to provide it.

Oh dear The Taxacom experts are less than enthusiastic ...

   « Hi all, I can't say that I would recommend this so-called
    "tree". It is not only incomplete, but it is not really a tree (just a series
    of interconnected bushes). The most noticeable is the omission of a lot of photosynthetic phyla,
    such as Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta, and especially most taxa in Kingdom
    Chromista (where are the diatoms, phaeophytes, xanthophytes, chrysophytes,
    etc.). This "tree" needs a lot of work. 

http://markmail.org/message/h32kgtoum6zri3ev?q=thread:3mg7wc...

Oh well. I'm happy to use a more complete corpus if one is available. But I don't have nearly the expertise to do any manual cleanup or patching.

Or this http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/lab/evolution/research#/ev...

This is very nicely done, but I wouldn't call it a "visualization", more of a "navigator". However, in the best kind of interface design, the data is the interface, and I'm all for that.

This would be absurdly cool if it pulled in Wikimedia images and/or called up the corresponding Wikipedia articles in a frame.

I know, I know, when I have time... pull requests are also welcome : )

I've always wanted to use D3 for something but can never find a reason to use it!

Very nice.. Found my own species in a few click!