A taxon is:a)a type of living organism.b)a group of related species.c)...
- A taxon is a taxonomic group or taxonomic unit of any ranking. Each category is referred to as a unit of classification.
- There are seven main taxonomic ranks: kingdom, phylum, division, class, order, family, genus, species.
Hence, the correct option is 'd' i.e. 'a taxonomic group of any ranking'.
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A taxon is:a)a type of living organism.b)a group of related species.c)...
Definition of a Taxon:
A taxon is a taxonomic group of any ranking that is used to classify living organisms based on their characteristics and evolutionary relationships. It can refer to a single species, a group of related species, a genus, a family, an order, a class, a phylum, or a kingdom.
Explanation:
- Type of Living Organism: A taxon can refer to a single species, such as Homo sapiens (humans), or a group of related species, such as Canis (dogs).
- Group of Related Families: While a taxon can encompass multiple families, it is not limited to just families. It can include various levels of classification, from lower levels like species to higher levels like kingdoms.
- Group of Related Species: Taxa are used to organize and classify the diversity of life on Earth, helping scientists understand the relationships between different organisms.
- Taxonomic Group of Any Ranking: Taxa can be assigned at any level of the taxonomic hierarchy, allowing for flexibility in classification based on the evolutionary history and characteristics of organisms.
In conclusion, a taxon is a fundamental concept in biology that helps in the systematic classification of living organisms. It provides a framework for understanding the diversity of life and the relationships between different species, genera, families, and other taxonomic groups.