Genus

(n.) A genus is a group of one or more species that share common characteristics. For instance, domestic dogs, wolves, and coyotes are different species within the same genus, Canis, but foxes have enough differences that they are placed in a different genus. The genus is thus a level of classification smaller than a family, but larger than a species. No two groups of animals or two groups of plants can have the same genus name (only dogs and not fishes or beetles can be Canis), but the rules do not prevent a plant and an animal from having the same genus name. The plural of genus is genera.