Genus

See genus (mathematics) foruse oftermmathematics.

In biology,genus (plural genera) isgrouping inclassificationliving organisms having one or more related or morphologically similar species. Incommon binomial nomenclature,namean organismcomposedits genus (capitalized) andspecies identifier. An exampleHomo sapiens,name forhuman species which belongs togenus Homo.

See scientific classificationmore detailsthis system.

The Type Genus oftaxon isfirst genusbe nameddescribed. Families and,plants, all taxa updivisionnamed aftertype genus. The genusthese taxatypified byspecimen that showscharacteristics ofgenus best. The specimen useddescribe this specieskept asholotype inzoological museum orherbariumbe availablefurther study.

A genus nameone kingdomallowedbesame asgenus or other taxon nameanother kingdom. For instance, Anura isgenusplants as well asorderfrogs; Aotusbothpea andmonkey. It is, however, not allowedtwo genera insame kingdomhavesame name; this explains whyplatypuscalled Ornithorhynchus--"platypus" was originally chosen, butname had already been givenan obscure invertebrate (invertebratesinsame kingdom, Animalia, asplatypus).

See also: Linnaean taxonomy, cladistics