<P> In his biology , Aristotle used the term γένος ( génos ) to mean a kind , such as a bird or fish , and εἶδος ( eidos ) to mean a specific form within a kind , such as ( within the birds ) the crane , eagle , crow , or sparrow . These terms were translated into Latin as `` genus '' and `` species '' , though they do not correspond to the Linnean terms thus named ; today the birds are a class , the cranes are a family , and the crows a genus . A kind was distinguished by its attributes ; for instance , a bird has feathers , a beak , wings , a hard - shelled egg , and warm blood . A form was distinguished by being shared by all its members , the young inheriting any variations they might have from their parents . Aristotle believed all kinds and forms to be distinct and unchanging . His approach remained influential until the Renaissance . </P>
<P> In his biology , Aristotle used the term γένος ( génos ) to mean a kind , such as a bird or fish , and εἶδος ( eidos ) to mean a specific form within a kind , such as ( within the birds ) the crane , eagle , crow , or sparrow . These terms were translated into Latin as `` genus '' and `` species '' , though they do not correspond to the Linnean terms thus named ; today the birds are a class , the cranes are a family , and the crows a genus . A kind was distinguished by its attributes ; for instance , a bird has feathers , a beak , wings , a hard - shelled egg , and warm blood . A form was distinguished by being shared by all its members , the young inheriting any variations they might have from their parents . Aristotle believed all kinds and forms to be distinct and unchanging . His approach remained influential until the Renaissance . </P>
who was the first to describe that species is the unit of classification
who was the first to describe that species is the unit of classification
Aristotle
Aristotle