Final answer:
In anthropology, the plant, animal, or mythical being that a clan's members view as their founder is referred to as a totem. This is part of a belief system known as totemism, which represents the clan's social relationships and spiritual kinship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The beings, such as plants, animals, or mythical entities, that are considered to be spiritually connected to a clan and are thought of by its members as their founders or ancestors, are referred to by anthropologists as totems. The belief system that encompasses these relationships is known as totemism. Members of a clan who share a totem view themselves as having a kinship relationship with that entity and with each other, reflecting cohesive social relationships within their community.