Organisms

An organism is any living thing that functions as an individual. Such a definition raises more problems than it solves, not least because the concept of an individual is also difficult. Several criteria, few of which are widely accepted, have been proposed to define what constitutes an organism. Among the most common is that an organism has autonomous reproduction, growth, and metabolism. This would exclude viruses, even though they evolve like organisms.

frame|right|Simplified schematic of an island's fauna – all its animal species, highlighted in boxes

frame|right|Simplified schematic of an island's flora all its plant species, highlighted in boxes Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous) native plants. The corresponding term for animals is fauna, and for fungi, it is funga. Sometimes bacteria and fungi are also referred to as flora as in the terms gut flora or skin flora for purposes of specificity.

thumb|270px|African elephants form the [[genus Loxodonta, a widely accepted taxon.]]