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What is Taxonomic Classification?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Taxonomic classification is the hierarchical organization of living beings into categories and subcategories that reveal their likenesses. The groupings used in this type of classification are called taxa, the plural of taxon, hence the name of the classification system. There are eight main levels in the currently used and internationally accepted taxonomic classification system, which has its foundations in the work of Carl Linnaeus. These levels are:

Kingdom > Phylum/Division > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species >Variety

All living things, from hummingbirds to flowers, are organized according to taxonomic classification.
All living things, from hummingbirds to flowers, are organized according to taxonomic classification.

Division and Variety are specific to plants, with Division also used for fungi. The term cultivar, or cultigen, designates an organism that has no known wild ancestor – created, for example, by cross-breeding. The term cultivar comes from a portmanteau formed of the words cultivated variety.

In addition, there are subcategories possible for the top four levels of the taxonomic classification system and for Species as well. These levels are:

KingdomPhylumClassOrderSpecies
SubkingdomSubphylumSubclass
Infraclass
SuperfamilySubspecies

Note that there are two subcategories in Class, and the distinctive name of the category under Order.

Taxonomic classification organizes all living things into categories and subcategories that reveal similarities and differences between them.
Taxonomic classification organizes all living things into categories and subcategories that reveal similarities and differences between them.

The Kingdom is the top level of taxonomic classification usually listed – Domain, a higher level, does exist, however. Most biologists recognize five kingdoms: Kingdom Animalia - the multi-cellular animals; Kingdom Plantae — plants except for 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 familiar groups that we use in non-scientific environments to categorize the animals — mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects — are the equivalent of the level of classification called Class, where they are referred to as Mammalia, Aves, Amphibia, Reptilia, and Insecta. It seems that there are several ways to handle fish, one being to assign them to four classes.

Several mnemonics have been devised to help recall the order of the taxonomic classification system, some including Variety, and some stopping at Species.

  • Kindly place cover on fresh green spring vegetables.
  • Krakatoa positively casts off fumes generating sulphurous vapours.
  • Kings play cards on fairly good soft velvet.
  • Kings play chess on fine grain sand.
  • Ken poured coffee on Fran's good shirt.
  • Kangaroos play cellos; orangutans fiddle; gorillas sing.
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to AllTheScience about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to AllTheScience about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

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Discussion Comments

anon326265

How does it work, though?

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    • All living things, from hummingbirds to flowers, are organized according to taxonomic classification.
      By: chas53
      All living things, from hummingbirds to flowers, are organized according to taxonomic classification.
    • Taxonomic classification organizes all living things into categories and subcategories that reveal similarities and differences between them.
      By: Budimir Jevtic
      Taxonomic classification organizes all living things into categories and subcategories that reveal similarities and differences between them.
    • Algae, part of Kingdom Monera.
      Algae, part of Kingdom Monera.
    • A frog, from the Class Amphibia.
      By: alle
      A frog, from the Class Amphibia.
    • Three Paramecium caudatum.
      By: micro_photo
      Three Paramecium caudatum.
    • Koalas are classified as marsupial mammals.
      By: Friedberg
      Koalas are classified as marsupial mammals.