"Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing and classifying organisms and includes all plants, animals and microorganisms of the world," (What Is Taxonomy?). Taxa is then refered to the categories used to classify organisms (Definition of Taxa). Think of taxa as folders for each subject you have on school, you place each homework in its specific folder, and the same is done by scientists as they categorize each organism puting in its different taxa. The hierarchy of taxa os ised to classify species into many subcategories that are found within larger categories (What Are Taxonomic Hierarchy Categories?). The image on the left shows the main categories, and as you go down each category the specification gets more accurate, ultimately being able to categorize an organism. 

 

The levels; (*You can click to see more information on each of them) 

1. Domain: It is the highest classification for living organisms (Domain). It includes;

   1. Eukaryotes

   2. Bacteria

   3. Archaea

2. Kingdom: It is the second highest classification for living organisms and these are based on how living things are the same and how they are different (The Five Kingdoms - Classification). It includes (Classification System);

   1. Animals

   2. Plants 

   3. Fungi

   4. Protists 

   5. Monera

3. Phylum: It is the third highest classification for living organisms. Here they are classified by their main fatures (Animal Classification). For each Kingdom there are many phulyms, but some include; Chordata (Animal), Mosses (Plant). 

4. Class: It is the fourth highest classification for living organisms. It classifies organisms that contain general common traits, such as having a backbone, eight legs, etc (Class). It includes; Mammalia, Aves, etc. 

5. Order: It is the fifth highest classification for living organisms. Examples of orders are willows, cockroaches and primates (What Is a Order?). 

6. Family: It is the sixth highest classification for living organisms which all have very similar features (Animal Classification). It includes Felidae (Cats), Canidae (Dogs), Ursidae (Bears), and Mustelidae (Weasels), etc. 

7. Genus: It is the seventh highest classification for living organisms. "Each genus contains animals that have very similar features and are closely related," (Animal Classification). It includes Felis, Panthera, etc. 

8. Species: It is the last classification for living organisms. The organism is named using the Genus and Specie. An example would be Gorilla gorilla. 

 

Fun fact: 

• Viruses are being debated whether or not to be considered a Domain (Damon, McGonegal, Tosto, Ward) 

 

 

Works Cited 

 

"Animal Classification." A-Z. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.

"Domain." CARM. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.

"Class." CARM. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.

"What Is Taxonomy?" Convention on Biological Diversity. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.

Damon, Alan, Randy McGonegal, Patricia Tosto, and William Ward. Higher Level Biology. 2nd ed. Print.

"Definition of Taxa." Dictionary. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.

"Classification System." Science Learning Hub RSS. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.

"What Is a Order?" Nature Wild Life. BBC News Services. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.

"Taxonomy." Taxonomy. The Encyclopedia of EARTH. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.

"What Are Taxonomic Hierarchy Categories?" The Bigger. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.