Genus (biology): Difference between revisions
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In [[biology]], a '''genus''' (plural '''genera''') is a [[taxon]], or taxonomic unit in a hierarchical system, forming the level of classification next above [[species]], grouping individuals together based on similarities between those individuals. | <imagemap> | ||
Image:Ficheiro.png|right|thumb|100px|The hierarchy of scientific classification in biology. | |||
default [[Taxonomy]] | |||
rect 12 4 84 33 [[Domain (biology)|Domain]] | |||
rect 11 47 86 78 [[Kingdom (biology)|Kingdom]] | |||
rect 12 91 86 122 [[Phylum (biology)|Phylum]] | |||
rect 11 135 87 166 [[Class (biology)|Class]] | |||
rect 11 178 86 211 [[Order (biology)|Order]] | |||
rect 11 223 87 254 [[Family (biology)|Family]] | |||
rect 11 268 87 301 [[Genus (biology)|Genus]] | |||
rect 11 312 86 344 [[Species (biology)|Species]] | |||
desc none | |||
</imagemap> | |||
In [[biology]], a '''genus''' (plural '''genera''') is a [[taxon]], or taxonomic unit in a hierarchical system, forming the level of classification next above [[species]], grouping individuals together based on similarities between those individuals. In a given genus, its member species share a common ancestor that differs from the common ancestor of the species making up a taxonomic family of related genera. | |||
In [[binomial nomenclature]], the scientific name of an organism is given as genus followed by species. For example, ''[[Felis silvestris]]'' (the [[wildcat]]) and ''[[Felis chaus]]'' (the [[jungle cat]]) are the names of two species within the genus ''[[Felis]]''. | In [[binomial nomenclature]], the scientific name of an organism is given as genus followed by species. For example, ''[[Felis silvestris]]'' (the [[wildcat]]) and ''[[Felis chaus]]'' (the [[jungle cat]]) are the names of two species within the genus ''[[Felis]]''. | ||
The figure at the right illustrates the hierarchy of the various levels. | The figure at the right illustrates the hierarchy of the various levels. | ||
Latest revision as of 07:20, 9 May 2009
In biology, a genus (plural genera) is a taxon, or taxonomic unit in a hierarchical system, forming the level of classification next above species, grouping individuals together based on similarities between those individuals. In a given genus, its member species share a common ancestor that differs from the common ancestor of the species making up a taxonomic family of related genera.
In binomial nomenclature, the scientific name of an organism is given as genus followed by species. For example, Felis silvestris (the wildcat) and Felis chaus (the jungle cat) are the names of two species within the genus Felis.
The figure at the right illustrates the hierarchy of the various levels.