Classification of Living Things

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Taxonomy Noun

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[tak-son-uh-mee]

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Taxonomy

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The branch of science concerned with the study and practice of classifying, naming, and grouping all living organisms.

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Example: Taxonomy is the science of classifying living things into a hierarchy of groups, from broad categories like Kingdom down to very specific ones like Species.

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Taxonomist Noun

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[tak-son-uh-mist]

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Taxonomist

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A biologist who specializes in the science of classifying living things into distinct, hierarchically arranged groups.

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Example: This diagram shows the levels of classification, from domain to species, that a taxonomist uses to organize living things based on their shared characteristics.

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Taxa Noun

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[tak-suh]

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Taxa

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The hierarchical groupings or levels used in the classification of organisms, such as kingdom, phylum, and class.

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Example: This diagram shows that taxa are groups used for classification, like the Domain Eukarya, which is broken down into the Kingdoms of Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

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Binomial Nomenclature Noun

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[bahy-noh-mee-uhl noh-muhn-kley-cher]

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Binomial Nomenclature

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A formal system for giving a unique, two-part scientific name to every organism, consisting of the genus and species.

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Example: The image shows that an organism's scientific name has two parts: the first part is the Genus (e.g., Panthera) and the second is the Species (e.g., tigris).

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Domain Noun

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[doh-meyn]

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Domain

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The highest and most inclusive taxonomic rank of organisms in the modern three-domain system of biological classification.

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Example: This diagram shows that Domain is the highest and broadest level in the classification of living things, containing all other groups like Kingdom and Species.

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Kingdom Noun

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[king-duhm]

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Kingdom

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The second highest taxonomic rank, positioned just below domain, used to classify all forms of life on Earth.

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Example: This diagram shows that living things are organized into large groups called kingdoms. It displays the five major kingdoms with picture examples for each.

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Phylum Noun

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[fahy-luhm]

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Phylum

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The taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class, grouping organisms based on a general body plan or organization.

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Example: This diagram shows the levels of biological classification from broadest (Life) to most specific (Species). A phylum is a major grouping ranked below kingdom and above class.

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Class Noun

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[klas]

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Class

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The taxonomic rank below phylum and above order, used to group organisms with more specific shared characteristics.

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Example: This diagram shows the levels of biological classification, from the broadest (Domain) to the most specific (Species). 'Class' is a key level in this hierarchy.

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Order Noun

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[or-der]

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Order

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The taxonomic rank below class and above family, grouping together families that share a set of similar features.

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Example: This diagram shows the levels of biological classification. 'Order' is a specific rank, more general than 'Family' but more specific than 'Class'.

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Family Noun

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[fam-uh-lee]

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Family

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The taxonomic rank below order and above genus, comprising a group of related genera with common attributes.

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Example: This diagram shows the levels of biological classification, from the most general (Kingdom) to the most specific (Species). The term 'Family' is a specific rank in this hierarchy, grouping together related genera.