The term taxon refers to a taxonomic group of :

Options

A. family rank
B. order rank
C. class rank
D. any rank

Explanation

To solve the question "The term taxon refers to a taxonomic group of:", we need to understand what the term "taxon" means in the context of biological classification.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Term "Taxon":**
- The term "taxon" (plural: taxa) is used in biology to refer to a group of one or more populations of organisms that are classified together. This can include various levels of classification.

2. **Identifying Taxonomic Ranks:**
- Taxonomic ranks are the levels of classification in the biological hierarchy. These ranks include:
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species

3. **Analyzing the Options:**
- The question provides four options:
- Option 1: Family rank
- Option 2: Order rank
- Option 3: Class rank
- Option 4: Any rank
- Since "taxon" can refer to any of these ranks (family, order, class, etc.), we need to determine which option encompasses all possibilities.

4. **Choosing the Correct Answer:**
- Since a taxon can refer to any level of classification, the correct answer is:
- **Option 4: Any rank.**

### Final Answer:
The term taxon refers to a taxonomic group of **any rank**.

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