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Hierarchy in the Classification of Organisms
Hierarchy in the Classification of Organisms. In the 18th century, Swedish scientist and physician Carl Linnaeus developed the first hierarchy in the classification of organisms. Scientists have built on that system ever since, and the hierarchy in the classification of organisms ranges from the broadest to the most specific, where it defines genus...
In the 18th century, Swedish scientist and physician Carl Linnaeus developed the first hierarchy in the classification of organisms. Scientists have built on that system ever since, and the hierarchy in the classification of organisms ranges from the broadest to the most specific, where it defines genus and species.
Kingdom
Five kingdoms are in the hierarchical classification of organisms. The Animal Kingdom includes mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, insects, worms, sponges and amphibians. The Plant Kingdom encompasses non-flowering and flowering woody plants, along with ferns and mosses. The Fungi Kingdom includes fungi, yeasts, mildews, molds, mushrooms and smuts. The Protista Kingdom consists of protozoa and algae, while the Monera Kingdom includes blue-green algae, spirochetes and bacteria.
Phylum
Next in the hierarchical classification of organisms is the phylum, in which the grouping is by general body structure. For example, humans are part of the chlordata phylum because they are bilaterally symmetrical. Insects, crabs, lobsters and similar body types belong to the Arthropoda phylum because they have jointed limbs and external skeletons.
Class
Class is next in the hierarchical order. It refers to whether the subject is a mammal, reptile, insect or other kind of organism in the Animal Kingdom, or a fern or flower in the Plant Kingdom, for example.
Order
Order further defines the subject organism depending on various factors. Humans and gorillas are both in the primate order, while cats and dogs belong to the order of carnivores. The class of insects known as butterflies belongs to the Lepidoptera order.
Family
Family connotes subjects sharing certain characteristics. As different as they are, lions and domestic cats both belong to the same family as felines.
Genus
The genus is the first part of the organism's scientific name. For example, humans belong to the genus Homo, and Homo sapiens is their scientific name. Dogs and wolves both belong to the genus Canis.
Species
Broadly defined, species are capable of breeding with each other with resulting production of fertile offspring. Species is the second part of a scientific name, after genus. For example, dogs are Canis familiaris, while their cousin in the same genus, the wolf, is Canis lupus.
