Classification is the process by which anything is groupedinto convenient categories based on some easily observable characters.The scientific term for these categories is taxa. Here you must recognise that taxa can indicate categories at very different levels

Term	Meaning	Example	Key Point
Taxon	Any group of organisms classified as a unit. It is the actual biological group.	Homo sapiens, Felis, Mammalia	Real group of organisms with common features.
Category	Abstract level or position in the classification system.	Species, Genus, Family, Class, etc.	A level used to classify taxa.
Rank	Often used interchangeably with category. Refers to the position in hierarchy.	Species (lowest), Kingdom (highest)	Shows level in classification order.

📌 “Animals”, “mammals”, and “dogs” are taxa — actual biological groups.

✔️ Each belongs to a category like Class or Genus.

🔼 Rank shows position in hierarchy: e.g., Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species.

Category / Rank = The level (like a “Shelf” in a library).

Taxon = The content on the shelf (actual group of organisms).

Taxon: A group of organisms that share common features and are assigned to a rank.
👉 “Mammalia” is a taxon under the category ‘Class’.

Category / Rank: A position or level in the taxonomic hierarchy used to classify organisms.
👉 “Class” is a taxonomic category or rank.

Example	Is it a Category (Rank)?	Is it a Taxon (Group)?	Explanation
Plants	✅	✅	Kingdom level — real group of plants.
Animals	✅	✅	Kingdom Animalia — both rank and group.
Mammals	✅	✅	Mammalia — class rank and taxon.
Dogs	❌	✅	Belongs to Genus Canis — not a formal rank.
Cats	❌	✅	Felis catus — a taxon, not a category.
Insects	✅	✅	Insecta — class rank and taxon.
Wheat	❌	✅	Genus Triticum — specific taxon.
Rice	❌	✅	Genus Oryza — real group.
Alsatian	❌	✅	Breed of dog — taxon within Canis.
Lion (Panthera leo)	❌	✅	Species level taxon.
Solanum	✅	✅	Genus — both rank and taxon.
Felidae	✅	✅	Family of cats — both rank and taxon.
Poales	✅	✅	Order of monocots — both rank and taxon.
Chordata	✅	✅	Phylum — both a level and a group.

Term	Meaning	Example	Key Point
Taxon	Any biological group	Homo sapiens, Mammalia	Actual group of organisms
Category	Abstract level in hierarchy	Species, Genus, Family	Used to classify taxa
Rank	Position of category	Species (low), Kingdom (high)	Level in the hierarchy

✔️ Animals, mammals, and dogs are taxa — real biological groups.

✳️ Each fits under a category like Class or Genus.

🔼 The rank shows where that category lies in hierarchy (e.g., Mammalia → Class).

Category / Rank = the label or level (like a shelf).

Taxon = what’s on the shelf (real organisms).

Taxon: A group of organisms assigned to a category.
➡️ Example: Mammalia is a taxon under Class.

Category / Rank: A level in hierarchy to classify organisms.
➡️ Example: Class is a category or rank.

Example	Category?	Taxon?	Explanation
Plants	✅	✅	Plantae — Kingdom level
Animals	✅	✅	Animalia — Kingdom
Mammals	✅	✅	Mammalia — Class
Dogs	❌	✅	Part of Genus Canis
Cats	❌	✅	Felis catus — not a rank
Insects	✅	✅	Class Insecta
Wheat	❌	✅	Genus Triticum
Rice	❌	✅	Genus Oryza
Alsatian	❌	✅	Breed under dogs
Lion	❌	✅	Species: Panthera leo
Solanum	✅	✅	Genus of potatoes, brinjal
Felidae	✅	✅	Cat Family
Poales	✅	✅	Order of monocots
Chordata	✅	✅	Phylum level