Linnaean taxonomy

:Taxonomy in general refers either to a hierarchical classification of things, or the principles underlying that classification.

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Linnaean taxonomy is a system of classification widely used in the biological sciences. It was first developed by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century during the great expansion of natural history knowledge. Linnaean taxonomy classifies living things into a hierarchy, originally starting with kingdoms. Today, many biologists consider Domains to be a classification above Kingdoms. Kingdoms are divided into phyla (singular: phylum)—for animals; the term divisions is used for plants. Phyla are divided into classes, and they, in turn, into orders, families, genera (singular: genus), and species (singular: species). Groups of organisms at any of these ranks are called taxa (singular: taxon), or phyla, or taxonomic groups.

Related Topics:
Classification - Biological sciences - Carolus Linnaeus - 18th century - Natural history - Hierarchy - Domains - Animal

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A summary of this scheme, from most general to most specific, would be:

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• Domain (or Superregnum) (not accepted by all biologists)
• Kingdom (or Regnum)
• Phylum (or division)
• Subphylum
• Superclass
• Class
• Subclass
• Superorder
• Order
• Suborder
• Superfamily
• Family
• Subfamily
• Genus
• Subgenus
• Species
• Subspecies
 
Linnaean taxonomy: Example classification: humans ►