Taksonid

Taksonid (singular takson) refer to the basic units of biological classification. In biology, taksonid are groups of organisms that are related through evolutionary history and share defining characteristics, used to organize biodiversity.

Taxa occur at many ranks: species, genus, family, order, class, phylum (or division in plants), kingdom, and domain. In traditional taxonomy, taxa are arranged in a hierarchical system; in modern phylogenetics, emphasis is on monophyletic groups (clades) that include an ancestor and all its descendants, regardless of rank.

Nomenclature: Each taxon is given a name following formal rules. Species names follow binomial nomenclature; higher taxa use standardized Latin names. The rules are governed by codes: ICZN for animals, ICN for plants, algae, and fungi. Names are unique within a kingdom or scope.

Examples: Homo sapiens (species taxon), Ursidae (family).

Usage: Taksonid provide a framework for studying biodiversity, evolution, ecology, and conservation; debates exist about the use of ranks versus clades in naming and classification.