An Ideal Taxon is Monophyletic

An ideal taxon is a group of organisms that share a common ancestor and all of its descendants. Such a group is considered monophyletic because it represents a true evolutionary grouping that reflects the common descent of all its members. Monophyletic taxa are preferred in modern biological classification because they reflect the evolutionary relationships among organisms, which is considered a more accurate way of understanding the diversity of life.

In contrast, an idea taxon or folk taxon is not necessarily monophyletic, as it is based on superficial similarities or perceived characteristics rather than a shared evolutionary history. While idea taxa can be useful for communication or organizing information, they do not reflect true evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Therefore, an ideal taxon is monophyletic, meaning it includes all descendants of a common ancestor, and reflects the evolutionary history of the group.