Species

Definition

The basic unit of biological classification, representing a group of individuals that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Etymology

From Latin 'speciēs', meaning 'appearance' or 'form', derived from 'specere', meaning 'to look' or 'to see'.

Example

There are approximately 900,000 known species of insects, making up the majority of animal life forms on Earth.

Synonyms

• Type
• Kind

Related Terms

• Genus
• family
• Order
• Class

Usage Notes

The concept of species can vary among different biological disciplines, with some using morphological traits and others genetic data to define boundaries.