Taxonomic classification organizes living things into categories and subcategories based on similarities. The system has eight main levels, including Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species, and Varieties. Sub-categories are possible for the first four levels and Species. There are five recognized kingdoms, including Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, and Monera. Mnemonics can help remember the order of the classification system.
Taxonomic classification is the hierarchical organization of living things into categories and subcategories that reveal their similarities. The groupings used in this type of classification are called taxa, plural of taxon, hence the name of the classification system. There are eight main levels in the currently used and internationally accepted system of taxonomic classification, which has its basis in the work of Carl Linnaeus. These levels are:
Kingdom > Phylum/Division > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species > Varieties
Division and Variety are specific to plants, with Division also being used for mushrooms. The term cultivar, or cultigen, designates an organism that has no known wild ancestor – created, for example, by crossbreeding. The term cultivar comes from a portmanteau formed by the words cultivated variety.
Furthermore, sub-categories are possible for the first four levels of the taxonomic classification system and also for Species. These levels are:
KingdomPhylumClassOrderSpeciesSubkingdomSubclassSubclassInfraclassSuperfamilySubspecies
Notice that there are two sub-categories under Class and the distinctive name of the category under Order.
Kingdom is the highest level of taxonomic classification usually listed – However, there is a higher level. Most biologists recognize five kingdoms: Kingdom Animalia – the multicellular animals; Kingdom Plantae — plants with the exception of blue-green algae; Kingdom Fungi: all fungi and yeasts, but not slime molds; Kingdom Protista or Protoctista: protozoa, slime molds and so on; and Kingdom Monera – bacteria, blue-green algae and so on. The family groups we use in non-scientific circles to classify animals – mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects – are the equivalent of the classification level called Class, where they are referred to as Mammalia, Aves, Amphibia, Reptilia and Insecta. There seem to be several ways to handle fish, one is to assign them to four classes.
Several mnemonics have been devised to help remember the order of the taxonomic classification system, some including Varieties and others stopping at Species.
Please place the lid on the fresh spring vegetables.
Krakatoa positively expels fumes generating sulfur vapors.
Kings playing cards on quite good soft velvet.
Kings play chess on fine-grained sand.
Ken spilled coffee on Fran’s good shirt.
Kangaroos play the cello; orangutan violin; the gorillas sing.
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