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{{short description|Taxonomic rank directly above species and directly below family}} {{Other uses|Genus (disambiguation)}} {{redirect|Genera|the operating system|Genera (operating system)}} {{Biological classification}} '''Genus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|iː|n|ə|s}}; {{plural form}}: '''genera''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|ɛ|n|ər|ə|}}) is a [[taxonomic rank]] above [[species]] and below [[family (taxonomy)|family]] as used in the [[biological classification]] of [[extant taxon|living]] and [[fossil]] organisms as well as [[Virus classification#ICTV classification|virus]]es.<ref name = "ICTV">{{Cite web|url=https://ictv.global/taxonomy|title=ICTV Taxonomy|date=2017|access-date=May 29, 2018|publisher=[[International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses]]|archive-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320103754/https://talk.ictvonline.org/taxonomy|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[binomial nomenclature]], the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus. :E.g. ''[[Panthera leo]]'' (lion) and ''[[Panthera onca]]'' (jaguar) are two species within the genus ''[[Panthera]]''. ''Panthera'' is a genus within the family [[Felidae]]. The composition of a genus is determined by [[taxonomy (biology)|taxonomists]]. The standards for genus classification are not strictly codified, so different authorities often produce different classifications for genera. There are some general practices used, however,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sigward |first1=J. D. |first2=M. D. |last2=Sutton |first3=K. D. |last3=Bennett |title=How big is a genus? Towards a nomothetic systematics |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=183 |issue=2 |pages=237–252 |year=2018 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx059 |url=https://pure.qub.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/how-big-is-a-genus-towards-a-nomothetic-systematics(939fc3e3-9067-4729-bd2a-23b32adfd556).html |doi-access=free |access-date=2018-12-22 |archive-date=2019-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530164327/https://pure.qub.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/how-big-is-a-genus-towards-a-nomothetic-systematics(939fc3e3-9067-4729-bd2a-23b32adfd556).html |url-status=live |hdl=10023/16213 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gill |first1=F. B. |first2=B. |last2=Slikas |first3=F. H. |last3=Sheldon |title=Phylogeny of titmice (Paridae): II. Species relationships based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene |journal=Auk |volume=122 |issue=1 |pages=121–143 |year=2005 |doi=10.1642/0004-8038(2005)122[0121:POTPIS]2.0.CO;2 |s2cid=86067032 }}</ref> including the idea that a newly defined genus should fulfill these three criteria to be descriptively useful: # [[monophyly]] – all descendants of an ancestral [[taxon]] are grouped together (i.e. [[Phylogenetics|phylogenetic]] analysis should clearly demonstrate both monophyly and validity as a separate lineage). # reasonable compactness – a genus should not be expanded needlessly. # distinctness – with respect to evolutionarily relevant criteria, i.e. [[ecology]], [[Morphology (biology)|morphology]], or [[biogeography]]; [[DNA sequences]] are a ''consequence'' rather than a ''condition'' of diverging evolutionary lineages except in cases where they directly inhibit [[gene flow]] (e.g. [[postzygotic barrier]]s). Moreover, genera should be composed of [[phylogenetic]] units of the same kind as other (analogous) genera.<ref name="delamaza-benignosetal2015">{{cite journal|last1=de la Maza-Benignos|first1=Mauricio|last2=Lozano-Vilano|first2=Ma. de Lourdes|last3=García-Ramírez|first3=María Elena|date=December 2015|title=Response paper: Morphometric article by Mejía et al. 2015 alluding genera Herichthys and Nosferatu displays serious inconsistencies|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=13|issue=4|pages=673–676|doi=10.1590/1982-0224-20150066|doi-access=free}}</ref> =={{anchor|Generic name|Name}}Etymology==<!-- Do not remove [[Template:Anchor]], since its terms are linked to as section titles --> The term "genus" comes from [[Latin]] {{Wikt-lang|la|genus}}, a noun form [[cognate]] with ''{{lang|la|[[wikt:gigno|gignere]]}}'' ('to bear; to give birth to'). The Swedish taxonomist [[Carl Linnaeus]] popularized its use in his 1753 ''[[Species Plantarum]]'', but the French botanist [[Joseph Pitton de Tournefort]] (1656–1708) is considered "the founder of the modern concept of genera".<ref>{{cite book |last=Stuessy |first=T. F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W8CrAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA42 |title=Plant Taxonomy: The Systematic Evaluation of Comparative Data |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |year=2009 |isbn=9780231147125 |edition=2nd |location=[[New York, New York]], US |page=42 |access-date=2023-03-19 |archive-date=2023-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406152109/https://books.google.com/books?id=W8CrAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA42 |url-status=live }}</ref> ==Use== The scientific name (or the scientific epithet) of a genus is also called the '''generic name'''; in modern style guides and science, it is always capitalised. It plays a fundamental role in [[binomial nomenclature]], the system of naming [[organism]]s, where it is combined with the scientific name of a [[species]]: see [[Botanical name]] and [[Specific name (zoology)]].<ref>{{cite book |author=International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature |author-link= |date=1999 |title=International Code of Zoological Nomenclature |url=https://www.iczn.org/the-code/the-code-online/ |location=London |publisher=The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature |page= |isbn=0-85301-006-4 |access-date=2023-11-10 |archive-date=2021-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903062842/https://www.iczn.org/the-code/the-code-online/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iapt-taxon.org/nomen/main.php?page=art3 |title=International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants – Melbourne Code |date=2012 |website=IAPT-Taxon.org |access-date=2023-11-10 |archive-date=2020-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010230658/https://www.iapt-taxon.org/nomen/main.php?page=art3 |url-status=live }}</ref> === Use in nomenclature === {{Main|Binomial nomenclature|Taxonomy (biology)|Author citation (zoology)|Author citation (botany)}} The rules for the [[scientific name]]s of [[organism]]s are laid down in the [[Nomenclature Codes|nomenclature codes]], which allow each species a single unique name that, for [[animal]]s (including [[protist]]s), [[plant]]s (also including [[algae]] and [[Fungus|fungi]]) and [[prokaryote]]s ([[bacteria]] and [[archaea]]), is [[Latin]] and binomial in form; this contrasts with [[common name|common or vernacular names]], which are non-standardized, can be non-unique, and typically also vary by country and language of usage. Except for [[Virus classification|viruses]], the standard format for a [[species]] name comprises the generic name, indicating the genus to which the species belongs, followed by the specific epithet, which (within that genus) is unique to the species. For example, the [[gray wolf]]'s scientific name is {{nowrap|''{{lang|la|Canis lupus}}'',}} with ''[[Canis]]'' ([[Latin]] for 'dog') being the generic name shared by the wolf's close relatives and {{lang|la|lupus}} (Latin for 'wolf') being the specific name particular to the wolf. A botanical example would be ''[[Hibiscus arnottianus]]'', a particular species of the genus ''[[Hibiscus]]'' native to Hawaii. The specific name is written in lower-case and may be followed by [[subspecies]] names in [[zoology]] or a variety of [[infraspecific name]]s in [[botany]]. When the generic name is already known from context, it may be shortened to its initial letter, for example, ''C. lupus'' in place of ''Canis lupus''. Where species are further subdivided, the generic name (or its abbreviated form) still forms the leading portion of the scientific name, for example, {{nowrap|''{{lang|la|Canis lupus lupus}}''}} for the [[Eurasian wolf]] subspecies, or as a botanical example, {{nowrap|''{{lang|la|Hibiscus arnottianus}}'' ssp. ''{{lang|la|immaculatus}}''}}. Also, as visible in the above examples, the Latinised portions of the scientific names of genera and their included species (and infraspecies, where applicable) are, by convention, written in [[Italic type|italics]]. The scientific names of [[virus]] species are descriptive, not binomial in form, and may or may not incorporate an indication of their containing genus; for example, the virus species "[[Salmonid herpesvirus 1]]", "[[Salmonid herpesvirus 2]]" and "[[Salmonid herpesvirus 3]]" are all within the genus ''[[Salmonivirus]]''; however, the genus to which the species with the formal names "[[Everglades virus]]" and "[[Ross River virus]]" are assigned is ''[[Alphavirus]]''. As with scientific names at other ranks, in all groups other than viruses, names of genera may be cited with their authorities, typically in the form "author, year" in zoology, and "standard abbreviated author name" in botany. Thus in the examples above, the genus ''Canis'' would be cited in full as "''Canis'' Linnaeus, 1758" (zoological usage), while ''Hibiscus'', also first established by [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] but in 1753, is simply "''Hibiscus'' L." (botanical usage). ===The type concept=== {{see also|Type genus|Type species|Type specimen}} Each genus should have a designated [[type (biology)|type]], although in practice there is a backlog of older names without one. In zoology, this is the [[type species]], and the generic name is permanently associated with the [[type specimen]] of its type species. Should the specimen turn out to be assignable to another genus, the generic name linked to it becomes a [[junior synonym]] and the remaining [[taxon|taxa]] in the former genus need to be reassessed. ===Categories of generic name=== In zoological usage, taxonomic names, including those of genera, are classified as "available" or "unavailable". Available names are those published in accordance with the [[International Code of Zoological Nomenclature]]; the earliest such name for any taxon (for example, a genus) should then be selected as the "[[valid name (zoology)|valid]]" (i.e., current or accepted) name for the taxon in question. Consequently, there will be more available names than valid names at any point in time; which names are currently in use depending on the judgement of taxonomists in either combining taxa described under multiple names, or splitting taxa which may bring available names previously treated as synonyms back into use. "Unavailable" names in zoology comprise names that either were not published according to the provisions of the ICZN Code, e.g., incorrect original or subsequent spellings, names published only in a thesis, and generic names published after 1930 with no type species indicated.<ref name="Hawksworth2010">{{cite book|author=D. L. Hawksworth|title=Terms Used in Bionomenclature: The Naming of Organisms and Plant Communities : Including Terms Used in Botanical, Cultivated Plant, Phylogenetic, Phytosociological, Prokaryote (bacteriological), Virus, and Zoological Nomenclature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qky7_6-UcQQC&pg=PA10|year=2010|publisher=GBIF|isbn=978-87-92020-09-3|pages=1–215}}</ref> According to "Glossary" section of the zoological Code, suppressed ''names'' (per published "Opinions" of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature) remain available but cannot be used as the valid name for a taxon; however, the names published in suppressed ''works'' are made unavailable via the relevant Opinion dealing with the work in question. In botany, similar concepts exist but with different labels. The botanical equivalent of zoology's "available name" is a [[validly published name]]. An invalidly published name is a {{Lang|la|nomen invalidum}} or {{Lang|la|nom. inval.}}; a rejected name is a {{Lang|la|nomen rejiciendum}} or {{Lang|la|nom. rej.}}; a later homonym of a validly published name is a {{Lang|la|nomen illegitimum}} or {{Lang|la|nom. illeg.}}; for a full list refer to the ''[[International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants]]'' and the work cited above by Hawksworth, 2010.<ref name="Hawksworth2010" /> In place of the "valid taxon" in zoology, the nearest equivalent in botany is "[[correct name]]" or "current name" which can, again, differ or change with alternative taxonomic treatments or new information that results in previously accepted genera being combined or split. [[International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes|Prokaryote]] and [[International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses|virus]] codes of nomenclature also exist which serve as a reference for designating currently{{When|date=August 2023}} accepted genus names as opposed to others which may be either reduced to synonymy, or, in the case of prokaryotes, relegated to a status of "names without standing in prokaryotic nomenclature". An '''available''' (zoological) or '''validly published''' (botanical) name that has been historically applied to a genus but is not regarded as the accepted (current/valid) name for the taxon is termed a [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]]; some authors also include unavailable names in lists of synonyms as well as available names, such as misspellings, names previously published without fulfilling all of the requirements of the relevant nomenclatural code, and rejected or suppressed names. A particular genus name may have zero to many synonyms, the latter case generally if the genus has been known for a long time and redescribed as new by a range of subsequent workers, or if a range of genera previously considered separate taxa have subsequently been consolidated into one. For example, the [[World Register of Marine Species]] presently lists 8 genus-level synonyms for the sperm whale genus ''[[Physeter]]'' Linnaeus, 1758,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137032|title=WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Physeter Linnaeus, 1758|website=www.marinespecies.org|access-date=2018-06-02|archive-date=2017-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709213325/http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137032|url-status=live}}</ref> and 13 for the bivalve genus ''[[Pecten (bivalve)|Pecten]]'' O.F. Müller, 1776.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138323|title=WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Pecten O. F. Müller, 1776|website=www.marinespecies.org|access-date=2018-06-02|archive-date=2018-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810174658/http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Identical names (homonyms)=== Within the same kingdom, one generic name can apply to one genus only. However, many names have been assigned (usually unintentionally) to two or more different genera. For example, the [[platypus]] belongs to the genus ''Ornithorhynchus'' although [[George Shaw (biologist)|George Shaw]] named it ''Platypus'' in 1799 (these two names are thus '''''synonyms'')'''. However, the name ''Platypus'' had already been given to a group of [[ambrosia beetle]]s by [[Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst]] in 1793. A name that means two different things is a '''''homonym'''''. Since beetles and platypuses are both members of the kingdom Animalia, the name could not be used for both. [[Johann Friedrich Blumenbach]] published the replacement name ''Ornithorhynchus'' in 1800. However, a genus in one [[kingdom (biology)|kingdom]] is allowed to bear a scientific name that is in use as a generic name (or the name of a taxon in another rank) in a kingdom that is governed by a different nomenclature code. Names with the same form but applying to different taxa are called "homonyms". Although this is discouraged by both the [[International Code of Zoological Nomenclature]] and the [[International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants]], there are some five thousand such names in use in more than one kingdom. For instance, * ''[[Anura (frog)|Anura]]'' is the name of the [[order (biology)|order]] of frogs but also is the name of a [[synonym (botany)|non-current]] genus of plants; * ''Aotus'' is the generic name of both [[Aotus (plant)|golden peas]] and [[night monkey]]s; * ''Oenanthe'' is the generic name of both [[wheatear]]s and [[Oenanthe (plant)|water dropwort]]s; * ''Prunella'' is the generic name of both [[accentor]]s and [[self-heal]]; and * ''Proboscidea'' is the order of [[elephant]]s and the genus of [[Proboscidea (plant)|devil's claws]]. * The name of the genus ''[[Paramecia (alga)|Paramecia]]'' (an extinct red alga) is also the plural of the name of the genus ''[[Paramecium]]'' (which is in the SAR supergroup), which can also lead to confusion. A list of generic homonyms (with their authorities), including both available (validly published) and selected unavailable names, has been compiled by the [[Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera]] (IRMNG).<ref name ="IRMNG">{{Cite web|url=http://www.irmng.org/homonyms.php|title=IRMNG: Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera|website=www.irmng.org|access-date=2016-11-17|archive-date=2016-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117212132/http://www.irmng.org/homonyms.php|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Use in higher classifications=== The [[type genus]] forms the base for higher [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomic]] ranks, such as the family name {{lang|la|[[Canidae]]}} ("Canids") based on ''Canis''. However, this does not typically ascend more than one or two levels: the [[order (biology)|order]] to which dogs and wolves belong is {{lang|la|[[Carnivora]]}} ("Carnivores"). ==Numbers of accepted genera== The numbers of either accepted, or all published genus names is not known precisely; Rees et al., 2020 estimate that approximately 310,000 accepted names (valid taxa) may exist, out of a total of c. 520,000 published names (including synonyms) as at end 2019, increasing at some 2,500 published generic names per year.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rees |first1=Tony |last2=Vandepitte |first2=Leen |last3=Vanhoorne |first3=Bart |last4=Decock |first4=Wim |title=All genera of the world: an overview and estimates based on the March 2020 release of the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG) |journal=Megataxa |volume=1 |pages=123–140 |year=2020 |issue=2 |url=https://www.mapress.com/j/mt/article/view/megataxa.1.2.3/39250 |doi=10.11646/megataxa.1.2.3 |doi-access=free |access-date=2020-04-02 |archive-date=2021-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322091308/https://www.mapress.com/j/mt/article/view/megataxa.1.2.3/39250 |url-status=live }}</ref> "Official" registers of taxon names at all ranks, including genera, exist for a few groups only such as viruses<ref name = "ICTV" /> and prokaryotes,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bacterio.net/|title=LPSN - List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature|website= bacterio.net|access-date=2018-06-01|archive-date=2022-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401092957/https://www.bacterio.net/|url-status=live}}</ref> while for others there are compendia with no "official" standing such as ''[[Index Fungorum]]'' for fungi,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indexfungorum.org/|title=Index Fungorum Home Page|website= indexfungorum.org|access-date=2018-06-01|archive-date=2015-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205221807/http://www.indexfungorum.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Index Nominum Algarum''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/ina/|title=Index Nominum Algarum: names of algae|website=Jepson Herbarium - University of California, Berkeley |access-date=2020-09-06|archive-date=2020-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807001456/https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/ina/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[AlgaeBase]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.algaebase.org/|title=Algaebase :: Listing the World's Algae|website=algaebase.org|access-date=2020-09-06|archive-date=2020-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829085615/https://www.algaebase.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> for algae, ''Index Nominum Genericorum''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/botany/ing/|title=Index Nominum Genericorum (ING), Botany |website=Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History |access-date=2019-06-07|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234638/http://botany.si.edu/ing/INGsearch.cfm?SearchWord=eggersia|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[International Plant Names Index]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ipni.org/|title=International Plant Names Index|website= ipni.org|access-date=2020-09-06|archive-date=2020-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502112641/https://www.ipni.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> for plants in general, and ferns through angiosperms, respectively, and ''[[Nomenclator Zoologicus]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ubio.org/NomenclatorZoologicus/|title=Nomenclator Zoologicus|website=uBio |access-date=2018-02-24|archive-date=2021-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223191732/http://ubio.org/NomenclatorZoologicus/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[Index to Organism Names]] for zoological names. Totals for both "all names" and estimates for "accepted names" as held in the ''[[Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera]]'' (IRMNG) are broken down further in the publication by Rees et al., 2020 cited above. The accepted names estimates are as follows, broken down by kingdom: [[File:Estimated accepted genus totals by kingdom - based on Rees et al 2020.jpg|thumb|Estimated accepted genus totals by kingdom - based on Rees et al., 2020]] * [[Animal]]ia: 239,093 accepted genus names (± 55,350) * [[Plant]]ae: 28,724 (± 7,721) * [[Fungus|Fungi]]: 10,468 (± 182) * [[Chromista]]: 11,114 (± 1,268) * [[Protozoa]]: 3,109 (± 1,206) * [[Bacteria]]: 3,433 (± 115) * [[Archaea]]: 140 (± 0) * [[Virus]]es: 851 (± 0) The cited ranges of uncertainty arise because IRMNG lists "uncertain" names (not researched therein) in addition to known "accepted" names; the values quoted are the mean of "accepted" names alone (all "uncertain" names treated as unaccepted) and "accepted + uncertain" names (all "uncertain" names treated as accepted), with the associated range of uncertainty indicating these two extremes. Within Animalia, the largest phylum is [[Arthropod]]a, with 151,697 ± 33,160 accepted genus names, of which 114,387 ± 27,654 are [[insect]]s (class Insecta). Within Plantae, [[Tracheophyta]] (vascular plants) make up the largest component, with 23,236 ± 5,379 accepted genus names, of which 20,845 ± 4,494 are [[angiosperms]] (superclass Angiospermae). By comparison, the 2018 annual edition of the [[Catalogue of Life]] (estimated >90% complete, for extant species in the main) contains currently{{When|date=August 2023}} 175,363 "accepted" genus names for 1,744,204 living and 59,284 extinct species,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2018/info/ac|title= 2018 Annual Checklist|website=Catalogue of Life |access-date=2018-07-07|archive-date=2020-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111212241/http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2018/info/ac|url-status=live}}</ref> also including genus names only (no species) for some groups. ==Genus size== [[File:Number of reptile genera with a given number of species.png|thumb|upright=1.35|Number of reptile genera with a given number of species. Most genera have only one or a few species but a few may have hundreds. Based on data from the [[Reptile Database]] (as of May 2015).]] The number of species in genera varies considerably among taxonomic groups. For instance, among (non-avian) [[reptile]]s, which have about 1180 genera, the most (>300) have only 1 species, ~360 have between 2 and 4 species, 260 have 5–10 species, ~200 have 11–50 species, and only 27 genera have more than 50 species. However, some insect genera such as the bee genera ''[[Lasioglossum]]'' and ''[[Andrena]]'' have over 1000 species each. The largest flowering plant genus, ''[[Astragalus (plant)|Astragalus]]'', contains over 3,000 species.<ref name="Frodin">{{cite journal |last=Frodin |first=David G. |year=2004 |title=History and concepts of big plant genera |journal=[[Taxon (journal)|Taxon]] |volume=53 |issue=3 |pages=753–776 |jstor=4135449 |doi=10.2307/4135449|bibcode=2004Taxon..53..753F }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hutang |first1=Ge-Ran |last2=Tong |first2=Yan |last3=Zhu |first3=Xun-Ge |last4=Gao |first4=Li-Zhi |date=2023-03-13 |title=Genome size variation and polyploidy prevalence in the genus Eragrostis are associated with the global dispersal in arid area |journal=Frontiers in Plant Science |language=English |volume=14 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2023.1066925 |doi-access=free |pmid=36993864 |pmc=10040770 |bibcode=2023FrPS...1466925H |issn=1664-462X}}</ref> Which species are assigned to a genus is somewhat arbitrary. Although all species within a genus are supposed to be "similar", there are no objective criteria for grouping species into genera. There is much debate among zoologists whether enormous, species-rich genera should be maintained, as it is extremely difficult to come up with identification keys or even character sets that distinguish all species. Hence, many taxonomists argue in favor of breaking down large genera. For instance, the lizard genus ''[[Anolis]]'' has been suggested to be broken down into 8 or so different genera which would bring its ~400 species to smaller, more manageable subsets.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Nicholson|first1=K. E.|last2=Crother|first2=B. I.|last3=Guyer|first3=C.|last4=Savage|first4=J.M.|date=2012|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2012/f/zt03477p108.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2012/f/zt03477p108.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=It is time for a new classification of anoles (Squamata: Dactyloidae)|journal=Zootaxa|volume=3477|pages=1–108|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3477.1.1|doi-access=free}}</ref> ==See also== * [[List of the largest genera of flowering plants]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Wikispecies}} * [http://www.irmng.org/index.php Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG)]: includes an estimated 95% of published genus names (accepted and unaccepted) in all groups (semi-continuously updated) * [http://ubio.org/NomenclatorZoologicus/ ''Nomenclator Zoologicus''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223191732/http://ubio.org/NomenclatorZoologicus/ |date=2021-12-23 }}: index of genus and subgenus names (accepted and unaccepted) in zoological nomenclature from 1758 to 2004 * [http://www.organismnames.com/ Index to Organism Names]: includes zoological taxon names at all ranks (including genera) as continuously indexed for the [[The Zoological Record|'' Zoological Record'']] * [https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/botany/ing/ ''Index Nominum Genericorum'' (ING)]: a compilation of generic names (accepted and unaccepted) published for organisms covered by the ICN: International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (semi-continuously updated) * [http://www.bacterio.net/ LPSN – List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature]: includes all currently{{When|date=November 2024}} accepted Bacteria and Archaea genus names (continuously updated) * [https://ictv.global/taxonomy ICTV taxonomy releases]: latest and historical lists of accepted virus names compiled by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), including all currently{{When|date=August 2023}} accepted virus genus names (updated via regular releases) {{Taxonomic ranks}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Genus}} [[Category:Genera|*01]] [[Category:Botanical nomenclature|Genus]] [[Category:Plant taxonomy]] [[Category:Zoological nomenclature]] [[Category:Bacterial nomenclature]] [[Category:Taxa named by Joseph Pitton de Tournefort]]
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