Legion (taxonomy)


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

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 in, for example, McKenna and Bell's classification of mammals.