(2) Examples of using the traditional 'Linnaean' system

From kingdom to species sub-divisions - in this case for human beings

So selecting humans from the traditional five kingdoms

animalia, plantae, fungi, protoctista (protists) and prokaryotes

So this is where you and I have come from, classification of humans!

With reference to the above diagram of the Linnaean classification system,

the five kingdoms of all organisms of life are further sub-divided into:

Phylum – comprising of several classes (us - chordata - vertebrates)

Class – comprising of several orders (us - mammalian)

Order – comprising of several families (us - primate)

Family – comprising of several genera (us - hominidae)

Genus – contains several species with similar characteristics (us - Homo)

Species – groups of organisms that have many features in common (Homo sapien - you and me!)

Reminder: A species is defined as a group of similar organisms that can reproduce to give fertile offspring e.g. cats or humans.

 

The brown bear as another example

Kingdom - animal

Phylum - vertebrates (chordates)

Class - mammals

Order - carnivores (animal eaters)

Family - bears

Genus - Ursus

Species - Ursus arctos (brown bear), the polar bear is Ursus maritimus (sea bear)

 

Even for the blue line-text pathway of 'Dr Phil Brown', the diagram ignores many subspecies e.g. vertebrates are part of the phylum Chordata and the vertebrates themselves are sub-divided into five subphyla: Vertebrata - fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

 

Examples of ancestry:

Humans and apes share the same ancestry down to the same family (hominidae), but humans and cats only share ancestry down to class (mammals). See chart below.

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Key points - Summary of ideas

Based on the syllabus-specifications for students taking the AQA, Edexcel and OCR GCSE level biology examinations (~US grades 9-10).

Classification of an Animal in the Linnaean System

Classification in biology is the process of organising living organisms into hierarchical categories based on shared characteristics.

The Linnaean system, established by Carl Linnaeus, groups organisms into seven levels: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

1. Kingdom

• The broadest category, grouping organisms based on fundamental characteristics.

• Animals belong to the Kingdom Animalia, which includes organisms that are multicellular, heterotrophic (cannot make their own food), and motile at some stage in their life cycle.

2. Phylum

• This level classifies organisms based on their body plan and structural features.

• Example: Phylum Chordata includes animals with a dorsal nerve cord, a notochord (in some stage), and often a backbone.

3. Class

• Groups organisms within a phylum based on more specific similarities.

• Example: Class Mammalia includes vertebrates that have hair/fur, produce milk for their young, and are warm-blooded.

4. Order

• Divides a class into smaller groups that share even more common traits.

• Example: Order Carnivora includes mammals that primarily eat meat and possess specialized teeth for cutting flesh.

5. Family

• Groups organisms within an order based on genetic and structural similarities.

• Example: Family Felidae consists of cats, including domestic cats, lions, tigers, and cheetahs.

6. Genus

• A more specific level that groups species with strong similarities.

• Example: Genus Panthera includes large, roaring cats like lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars.

7. Species

• The most specific category, defining individual organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

• Example: Species Panthera tigris refers specifically to the tiger.

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• The classification system helps scientists organise, name, and study living organisms efficiently.

• Scientific names follow binomial nomenclature, which combines the genus and species names, e.g., Panthera tigris (tiger).

• The system is periodically updated based on advancements in genetics and evolutionary biology.

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Summary of learning objectives and key words or phrases

Know the about classification of sub-dividing five kingdoms into phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

Be able to interpret a classification diagram based onto this hierarchical system.

The diagram above illustrate the system for the origin of us humans from the animal line from the five kingdoms.

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