|
A taxon (plural taxa), or taxonomic unit, is a grouping of organisms (named or unnamed). Once named, a taxon will usually have a rank and can be placed at a particular level in a hierarchy. A broad scheme of ranks in hierarchical order: Domain Kingdom Phylum (animals or plants) or Division (plants) Class Order Family Genus Species Subspecies A simple mnemonic phrase to remember the order is "King Philip Came Over From Great Spain". Alternatively "Domineering King Phillip Can Order Five Green Shirts". A prefix is used to indicate a ranking of lesser importance. The prefix super- indicates a rank above, the prefix sub- indicates a rank below. In zoology the prefix infra- indicates a rank below sub-. For instance: Superclass Class Subclass Infraclass Do note that rank is relative, and restricted to the particular scheme used. For example, liverworts have been grouped, in various systems of classification, as a family, order, or a class. The use of ranks is challenged by users of cladistics and has led to the PhyloCode being proposed.
See also | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||
 |
|
| |