Taxonomy Hierarchy Table
Visual guide to Biological Classification. From Kingdom down to Species.
Man
Homo sapiens
Housefly
Musca domestica
Mango
Mangifera indica
Wheat
Triticum aestivum
Cat
Felis catus
Dog
Canis lupus familiaris
Lion
Panthera leo
Potato
Solanum tuberosum
Mnemonic to Remember
Use this sentence to memorize the order from Kingdom to Species:
Understanding Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the branch of science dealing with the principles and procedures of classification. The Taxonomic Hierarchy arranges organisms into successive levels (Taxa) based on similarities.
Binomial Nomenclature
Universal system for naming species. Consists of two components:
- Generic Name (Genus): Starts with a Capital letter (e.g., Homo).
- Specific Epithet (Species): Starts with a small letter (e.g., sapiens).
The 7 Ranks
- KingdomHighest category (e.g., Animalia)
- PhylumRelated classes (Chordata for animals)
- ClassRelated orders (Mammalia has fur/milk)
- OrderRelated families (Carnivora eat meat)
- FamilyRelated genera (Felidae cats)
- GenusRelated species (Panthera lions/tigers)
- SpeciesFundamental unit (leo)
Interactive Learning Features
Detailed Cards
Each organism card breaks down the full 7-step hierarchy for easy memorization.
Color Coded
Distinct colors for Genus, Family, and Order help in distinguishing levels visually.
Scientific Names
Learn biological names like Mangifera indica alongside common names.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct order of taxonomic hierarchy?
The correct ascending order is: Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum (for animals) / Division (for plants) → Kingdom. This moves from the most specific to the most general category.
What is a Taxon?
A Taxon (plural: Taxa) is a unit of classification at any level. For example, "Mammalia" is a taxon at the Class level, and "Homo" is a taxon at the Genus level.
What is Binomial Nomenclature?
It is a system of naming species proposed by Carolus Linnaeus. Each name has two parts: the Generic name (Genus) starting with a capital letter, and the Specific epithet (Species) starting with a small letter (e.g., Homo sapiens).
Why is Phylum used for animals and Division for plants?
By convention in biological classification, the rank below Kingdom is called "Phylum" for animals (e.g., Chordata) and "Division" for plants (e.g., Angiospermae).
What defines a Species?
A species is a group of individual organisms with fundamental similarities that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
What is the scientific name of the Housefly?
The scientific name is Musca domestica. It belongs to the Family Muscidae, Order Diptera, and Class Insecta.
What is the hierarchy for Humans?
Kingdom: Animalia → Phylum: Chordata → Class: Mammalia → Order: Primata → Family: Hominidae → Genus: Homo → Species: sapiens.
How does specificity change in the hierarchy?
As we move up from Species to Kingdom, the number of common characteristics decreases (specificity decreases), while the number of organisms in the group increases.
Who is known as the Father of Taxonomy?
Carolus Linnaeus is known as the Father of Taxonomy for establishing the system of hierarchical classification and binomial nomenclature.
What is the difference between Genus and Family?
A Genus is a group of related species (e.g., Panthera includes Lion and Tiger). A Family is a larger group containing related genera (e.g., Family Felidae includes Genus Panthera and Genus Felis).