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Species

species classification

Species

The species is below genus and the most basic unit in biological classification. Members of the same species share the same evolutionary history. They are more closely related to each other than other organisms, including other members of the same genus. Members of the same species have both physical and genetic similarities and the same number of chromosomes. They also mate with each other and produce offspring.

Each species has a scientific name, composed of the genus name and species name.

Some species include groups with such distinctive traits that they are classified as subspecies; in these cases, a subspecies name is added to the end of the species name.

There are 40 wild cat species in the world.