A non-obligate component of hierarchy of categories used by Linnaeus was

Options

A. Class
B. Genus
C. Family
D. Variety

Answer

To answer the question "A non-obligate component of hierarchy of categories used by Linnaeus was," we will follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Hierarchy of Categories
Linnaeus established a hierarchical system for classifying living organisms, which includes several categories. The primary categories are known as obligate categories, which must be used in classification.

### Step 2: Identify the Obligate Categories
The seven obligate categories used by Linnaeus are:
1. Kingdom
2. Division (for plants) / Phylum (for animals)
3. Class
4. Order
5. Family
6. Genus
7. Species

These categories are essential and must be used during the classification of organisms.

### Step 3: Define Non-Obligate Categories
Non-obligate categories are additional classifications that are not mandatory. They can be used when necessary but are not required for the classification process.

### Step 4: List Examples of Non-Obligate Categories
Some examples of non-obligate categories include:
- Subdivision
- Suborder
- Subfamily
- Variety

### Step 5: Analyze the Options
Now, let's analyze the options provided in the question:
- Class: This is an obligate category.
- Genus: This is also an obligate category.
- Family: This is another obligate category.
- Variety: This is a non-obligate category.

### Step 6: Conclusion
Since the question asks for a non-obligate component, the correct answer is **variety**.

### Final Answer:
**Variety**

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