All leather is basicaly the same once a skin/hide has gone through the tanning process. It is waht they then do to the finish that will determine the type of leather it falls into. Although there are 3 basic categories:
Anilne, Protected, Nubuck these days these terms are too generalised as the range of finishes is enormous.
This is a good guide to the types of leather
http://www.lttleathercare.co.uk/typesofleather.asp