In 

biology, classification is the process of arranging organisms, both living and extinct, into
groups based on similar characteristics. The science of naming and classifying organisms is
called taxonomy. The term is derived from the Greek taxis (“arrangement”)
and nomos (“law”).

Taxonomists classify organisms into a structural hierarchy—a multi-level system in which

each group is nested, or contained, within a larger group. Groups at the highest level are the
largest and most general and contain a wide variety of living things. These groups are divided
into smaller groups of similar organisms. Each smaller group is split into even smaller
groups, which contain organisms with even more similar features: For example, a large group
that includes all plants would contain smaller groups of that contain similar types of plants,
such as trees, bushes, mosses, flowering plants, and so forth. Each of these groups would
contain still smaller groups; for example, the tree group might be divided into conifers and
broadleaf trees.

LEVELS OF CLASSIFICATION
The classification system commonly used today is based on the Linnean system and has eight
levels of taxa; from the most general to the most specific, these are domain, kingdom, phylum
(plural, phyla), class, order, family, genus (plural, genera), and species. (For plants, the
term division is generally used instead of phylum.) Each level is contained, or nested, within
the level above it. For example, a genus contains one or more species; a family contains one
or more genera; an order contains one or more families; and so on. The domain is the highest
level of organization and is the largest group.

Following are overviews of each taxonomic level in modern biological classification. (For a
detailed description of domains and kingdoms, see “Classification of Living Things” in the
article living things.)

DOMAIN

The domain is the highest rank in biological classification. There are three domains—
Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. The Archaea and the Bacteria each
contain prokaryotes (single-celled organisms that lack a true nucleus) but differ in structural,
genetic, and biochemical characteristics. The domain Eukarya contains eukaryotes—
organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

KINGDOM

Before the domain taxon was introduced during the 1990s, the kingdom ranked as the highest
taxonomic level in classification. Most scientists today recognize six kingdoms: Archaea
(prokaryotes with distinct cellular characteristics that adapt them to extreme environments,
such as deep-sea vents and hot springs); Bacteria (prokaryotes that are not
archaeans); Protista (chiefly protozoa and algae); Fungi (mushrooms, molds, and yeasts);
Plantae (plants); and Animalia (animals). The kingdoms Archaea and the Bacteria each
constitute a separate domain. The Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia all belong to the
domain Eukarya.

PHYLUM

The phylum (plural, phyla) ranks below the kingdom and above the class in taxonomy.
Scientists generally use the term phylum for archaea, bacteria, protists, fungi, and animals,
but they substitute the term division for plants.

Organisms are classified in a phylum or division based largely on general body plan. For
example, members of the Phylum Arthropoda have external skeletons, segmented bodies, and
jointed legs. Insects, crabs, and arachnids are examples of arthropods. A muscular foot and a
soft unsegmented body that may or may not be covered with a shell are hallmarks of the
Phylum Mollusca; familiar mollusks include mussels, snails, and clams. Animals of the
Phylum Chordata have an internal skeleton and a backbone or notochord (a primitive
backbone). Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals (including humans) are in this
group. (See alsovertebrate.)

CLASS

The class ranks below the phylum and above the order in taxonomy. Members of a class
share more characteristics with each other than they do with other organisms in the same
phylum. Amphibians and reptiles both belong to the Phylum Chordata, but each belongs to a
different class. Members of the Class Amphibia (chiefly frogs, toads, and salamanders) have
moist, smooth skin and reproduce by laying large quantities of jellylike eggs in water.
Members of the Class Reptilia (snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises) reptiles have dry scaly
skin and reproduce by laying small clutches of leathery eggs on land.

ORDER

The order ranks below the class and above the family in the taxonomic hierarchy. The groups
in an order have more in common with each other than they do with other members of the
same class. Because reindeer(caribou) and whales both belong to the Class Mammalia, they
share the basic traits of mammals, such as feeding milk to their young; however, each
belongs to a different order. Reindeer are part of the Order Artiodactyla, which includes
cloven-hoofed mammals; cows, pigs, antelope, and giraffes are fellow artiodactyls. Whales
belong the Order Cetacea, a marine mammal order that counts porpoises and dolphins as
members.
FAMILY

In taxonomy, the family ranks below the order and above the genus. Members of the same
taxonomic family are more closely related to each other than they are to other members of the
same order. For example, foxes, coyotes, lions, cats, otters, and weasels all belong to the
Order Carnivora. However, foxes and coyotes belong to the family
Canidae. Lions and cats belong to the family Felidae; otters and weasels are part of the family
Mustelidae.

GENUS

The genus (plural, genera) is the taxonomic rank between family and species. The groups of
organisms in a genus share many structural similarities and are very closely related. Members
of a genus are more closely related to each other than they are to other genera in the same
family. The cat family, Felidae, includes lions, tigers, ocelots, domestic cats, bobcats, and
lynx. However, lions and tigers belong to the genus Panthera, ocelots and domestic cats are
part of the genus Felis, and lynx and bobcats are in the genus Lynx.

SPECIES

The species is the most fundamental unit in taxonomy and ranks at the base of the biological
classification hierarchy. Members of the same species share the same evolutionary history
and are more closely related to each other than they are to any other organisms, including
other members of the same genus. Organisms are grouped into a species based on physical
and genetic similarities. All members of a species have the same number of chromosomes.

The most important factor in species classification is the ability of members to successfully
interbreed—that is, to mate and produce viable offspring (those that can in turn breed and
produce more offspring). Individuals of the same species can successfully interbreed with one
another but almost never with members of other species. Different species within a genus
have been known to produce hybrid offspring, but the offspring are almost always sterile. An
example of this is the mating of a horse and a donkey, which produces a mule. Because mules
are sterile, the interbreeding is not considered successful.

Each species has its own scientific name, composed of the genus name and species epithet.
The lion’s scientific name is Panthera leo, whereas the scientific name of the tiger
is Panthera tigris.

Some species include groups with such distinctive traits that they are classified as subspecies;
in these cases, a subspecies name is added to the end of the species name. Subspecies
of Panthera tigris include the Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and the Indian, or
Bengal, tiger (Panthera tigris tigris).