In terms of the number of individuals, which of the following taxa is most inclusive?
Answer Details
Among the given options, "class" is the most inclusive taxon in terms of the number of individuals it includes.
Taxonomy is the science of naming and classifying living organisms. Organisms are classified into different groups based on their characteristics, and each of these groups is called a taxon. The taxonomic hierarchy consists of several levels or ranks, with each level representing a different degree of similarity and relatedness among the organisms.
Starting from the most inclusive to the least inclusive, the taxonomic hierarchy goes like this: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
The "class" is a higher taxonomic rank or category than "order," "family," or "species." It is a group of related orders, and each class is made up of one or more orders. Thus, a class includes many orders, families, and species.
For instance, the class "Mammalia" includes many orders such as primates, carnivores, rodents, and whales, among others. Each of these orders, in turn, includes several families, and each family includes several species. Therefore, "class" is the most inclusive of the given options.