Which of the following taxon shows maximum species diversity?

Options

A. Fishes
B. Beetles
C. Ants
D. Orchids

Answer

To determine which taxon shows maximum species diversity among the options provided, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Concept of Biodiversity**:
- Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms on Earth, encompassing the number of species of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.

2. **Identify the Taxa and Their Species Count**:
- We need to analyze the species count for each taxon mentioned:
- Fishes: Approximately 28,000 species
- Beetles: Approximately 300,000 species
- Ants: Approximately 20,000 species
- Orchids: Approximately 20,000 species

3. **Compare the Species Diversity**:
- Now, we compare the number of species in each taxon:
- Fishes: 28,000
- Beetles: 300,000
- Ants: 20,000
- Orchids: 20,000
- From this comparison, it is evident that beetles have the highest number of species.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the taxon that shows maximum species diversity is **Beetles**.

### Final Answer:
The taxon that shows maximum species diversity is **Beetles**.

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