What is the Difference Between Taxon and Clade?

The main difference between a taxon and a clade lies in their definitions and the way they are classified in the biological hierarchy.

• Taxon: A taxon is a group of one or more populations of organisms that taxonomists classify as a unit. It is a rank or group in a biological classification into which related organisms are classified. Taxa include kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species in the Linnaean system. A taxon can be monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic, and it may have a single ancestor or different ancestors.
• Clade: A clade is a group of organisms that are monophyletic, meaning they are composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants. A clade is a phylogenetic classification, based on evolutionary relationships. Small clades can include as few as two species and their common ancestor, while larger clades can include many more species and their common ancestors. A clade always has a single common ancestor.

In summary, a taxon is a classification unit that groups related organisms, while a clade is a group of organisms that share a common ancestor and all its descendants. Both taxa and clades are important components of phylogenetic trees, but they represent different levels of organization and relationships within the tree.

Comparative Table: Taxon vs Clade

Here is a table comparing the differences between a taxon and a clade:

In summary, a taxon is a group of related organisms classified in the biological classification system, while a clade is a group of organisms that share a common ancestor and all its descendants. A taxon can have various classifications (monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic), whereas a clade is always monophyletic.