|
Species is defined as a group of organisms that consist of similar individuals capable of interbreeding or exchanging genes among themselves |
In biology, species is the most basic unit of classification, as well as a taxonomic rank. The next taxonomic rank on the hierarchy of biological classification is a genus. On earth, there are currently 8.7 million species living today, however, that number is just a fraction of all organisms that have ever lived.
The concept of species dates back to the time of Aristotle. He used the term “génos”, which meant “a kind” (eg: fish), and “eidos”, which means “a specific form” (eg: tuna, sardine etc). These terms were eventually translated into Latin as “genus” and “species”, though they do not correspond to the terms under the Linnaean taxonomy.
Main Article: Concept of Species
Further Reading:
To explore more about Species Definition, or any other definitions in Biology, register at BYJU’S.
Frequently Asked Questions on Species
Define the term species
Species is defined as a group of organisms that consist of similar individuals capable of interbreeding or exchanging genes among themselves.
How many species are there in the world?
An estimated 8.7 million species of living organisms have been identified to date. However, this number does not account for all the organisms that went extinct.
Comments