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In the 18th century, a scientist named Linnaeus invented a classification
system for all living things. He developed a way to group living things
according to what they look like and how they live. This system made it
easier
for scientists all over the world to talk to each other no matter what
country
they lived in, or what language they spoke.
To classify animals, Linnaeus asked questions about how animals are
different or
similar to each other. He used seven levels to group the animals together.
These groups ranged from very large to very small. The smaller the group,
the
more things those animals have in common with one another.
These seven levels of classification are Kingdom,
Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
KINGDOM: There are five kingdoms in Linnaeus' system into which he divided all life on earth: Bacteria, Algae, Fungus, Plants, and Animals.
back to topPHYLUM (Fi-lum): A phyle is the largest group of related animals.
back to topCLASS: There are 5 classes of animals. Animals grouped in the same class share at least one major attribute.
back to topORDER: Within each class there can be many different orders. Animals in the same order have much in common.
back to topFAMILY: A family describes a group of closely related animals that are grouped together by a bundle of even more similar characteristics.
back to topGENUS: Animals in the same genus share almost all of the same general and specific characteristics, but generally cannot breed with one another.
back to topSPECIES: This is the smallest and most specific division. Members of a species have many common characteristics, but they all share at least one that is different from any other species.
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