What is the most narrow taxonomic category?

What is the most narrow taxonomic category?

• A. Genus
• B. Species
• C. Family
• D. Order

Answer: (B)

In classification, groups get broader as you move up the hierarchy. The most narrow category is the species, which designates a group of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring under natural conditions and share a gene pool. A genus, by contrast, includes one or more species that are closely related, a family contains several genera, and an order contains multiple families. So the species is the smallest, most specific unit in this system. For example, Panthera tigris and Panthera leo are two species within the same genus Panthera, illustrating how genus is broader than species.

In classification, groups get broader as you move up the hierarchy. The most narrow category is the species, which designates a group of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring under natural conditions and share a gene pool. A genus, by contrast, includes one or more species that are closely related, a family contains several genera, and an order contains multiple families. So the species is the smallest, most specific unit in this system. For example, Panthera tigris and Panthera leo are two species within the same genus Panthera, illustrating how genus is broader than species.