Legion (biology)

The hierarchy of biological classification's eight major taxonomic ranks, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia. Intermediate minor rankings are not shown.

The legion, in biological classification, is a non-obligatory taxonomic rank within the Linnaean hierarchy.

Taxonomic rank

In zoological taxonomy, the legion is:

1. subordinate to the class
2. superordinate to the cohort.
3. consists of a group of related orders

Legions may be grouped into superlegions or subdivided into sublegions, and these again into infralegions.

Use in zoology

Legions and their super/sub/infra groups have been employed in some classifications of birds and mammals. Full use is made of all of these (along with cohorts and supercohorts) in, for example, McKenna and Bell's classification of mammals.

See also

• Linnaean taxonomy
• Mammal classification