State the taxonomic hierarchy. Explain how each kingdom is divided into smaller groups?
Difficulty: Medium
Taxonomic hierarchy:
The groups into which organisms are classified are known as taxonomic categories or taxa (singular “taxon”) and these taxa form a ladder called taxonomic hierarchy. All the organisms are divided into five kingdoms:
The base for Establishing five Kingdoms:
Based on similarities, each kingdom is further divided into smaller groups in the following way:
- Phylum (Division: for plants and fungi):
A phylum is a group of related classes.
- Class: A class is a group of related orders.
- Order: A order is a group of related families.
- Family: A family is a group of related genera.
- Genus: A genus is a group of related species.
- Species: A species consists of similar organisms.
Note: Each category (taxon) is more than one below it and has emergent properties. Member of its lower taxon resembles one another more than do the members of the higher taxon.