Question

What is the smallest taxonomic group?

Answer 1

Smallest taxonomic group :

1. Species is considered as smallest taxonomical group in biological classification.
2. Linnaeus was the first to establish and define hierarchy of taxonomic categories.
3. The general accepted categories follows the order :$\mathrm{Kingdom}\to \mathrm{Phylum}\to \mathrm{Class}\to \mathrm{Order}\to \mathrm{Family}\to \mathrm{Genus}\to \mathrm{Species}$.
4. According to Mayer(1942), “ Species is a population of interbreeding individuals”.
5. For example : Population of lions represent the species Panthera leo and a population of tigers comprises of the species, Pathera tigris.
6. However, both the species belong to the genus Panthera.
7. Hence, species is the smallest basic unit of the taxonomy and evolution.