taxon

[ˈtæksɒn]

taxon Definition

a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit.

Using taxon: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "taxon" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The taxon Felidae includes all the cat species.

  • Example

    The taxon Homo sapiens includes all humans.

  • Example

    The taxon Canis lupus includes all wolf species.

taxon Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for taxon

Phrases with taxon

  • a taxonomic group that is higher than the rank of species, such as genus, family, order, class, phylum, or kingdom

    Example

    The higher taxon of the domestic dog is Canis lupus familiaris.

  • the taxon on which the name of a species or genus is based

    Example

    The type taxon of the domestic dog is Canis lupus familiaris.

  • a taxonomic group that contains only one species

    Example

    The monotypic taxon of the giant panda is Ailuropoda melanoleuca.

Origins of taxon

from Greek 'taxis', meaning 'arrangement' and 'nomos', meaning 'law'

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Summary: taxon in Brief

The term 'taxon' [ˈtæksɒn] refers to a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. It is used in scientific classification to categorize living organisms into groups based on their characteristics. Examples of taxons include Felidae, Homo sapiens, and Canis lupus. Taxons can be further classified into higher taxons, type taxons, and monotypic taxons.