Taxonomy: Difference between revisions
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(Singl., [[taxon]]). There are an enormous number of kinds of organisms described, and their study requires organization. Historically, organisms were classified according to their structure. Those with certain characteristics were put into one group, and those with different characteristics placed into another. These groups were divided and subdivided, producing a hierarchy of taxa, each with common structural characteristics according to a specified principle of classification. However, recent efforts have been made to reorganize some parts of the system based on the [[phylogeny]] of an organism — that is, its relation to other organisms based on its evolutionary history. | (Singl., [[taxon]]). There are an enormous number of kinds of organisms described, and their study requires organization. Historically, organisms were classified according to their structure. Those with certain characteristics were put into one group, and those with different characteristics placed into another. These groups were divided and subdivided, producing a hierarchy of taxa, each with common structural characteristics according to a specified principle of classification. However, recent efforts have been made to reorganize some parts of the system based on the [[phylogeny]] of an organism — that is, its relation to other organisms based on its evolutionary history. | ||
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Image:Ficheiro.png|left|thumb|100px|The hierarchy of scientific classification in biology. | |||
default [[Taxonomy]] | |||
rect 12 4 84 33 [[Domain (biology)|Domain]] | |||
rect 11 47 86 78 [[Kingdom (biology)|Kingdom]] | |||
rect 12 91 86 122 [[Phylum (biology)|Phylum]] | |||
rect 11 135 87 166 [[Class (biology)|Class]] | |||
rect 11 178 86 211 [[Order (biology)|Order]] | |||
rect 11 223 87 254 [[Family (biology)|Family]] | |||
rect 11 268 87 301 [[Genus (biology)|Genus]] | |||
rect 11 312 86 344 [[Species (biology)|Species]] | |||
desc none | |||
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Biologists group all organisms, living or dead, into one of three ''[[Domain (biology)|domains]]'' — [[Bacteria]], [[Archaea]], and [[Eukarya]]. In Eukarya, domains subdivide into ''[[Kingdom (biology)|Kingdoms]]''. For example, the [[animal]] kingdom (''Animalia'') is divided into subgroups called ''phyla'' (e.g., [[Chordata]]), each of which (a ''phylum'') is divided into ''classes'' (e.g., [[Mammalia]]), each class into ''orders'' (e.g., [[Carnivora]]), and each order into ''families'' (e.g., [[Felidae]]), and each family into ''genera'' (e.g., [[Panthera]]). Each genus (singular of genera) is divided into ''species'' (e.g., ''[[Panthera tigris]]'', tigers). The species is the most basic category, the kind of animal, designated in a Latin binomial. The category of subspecies is sometimes used, often where the species doesn't satisfy the [[biological definition of species]]. That is, subspecies are usually organisms that have mostly identical characteristics and can interbreed, but live in different geographic locations. | Biologists group all organisms, living or dead, into one of three ''[[Domain (biology)|domains]]'' — [[Bacteria]], [[Archaea]], and [[Eukarya]]. In Eukarya, domains subdivide into ''[[Kingdom (biology)|Kingdoms]]''. For example, the [[animal]] kingdom (''Animalia'') is divided into subgroups called ''phyla'' (e.g., [[Chordata]]), each of which (a ''phylum'') is divided into ''classes'' (e.g., [[Mammalia]]), each class into ''orders'' (e.g., [[Carnivora]]), and each order into ''families'' (e.g., [[Felidae]]), and each family into ''genera'' (e.g., [[Panthera]]). Each genus (singular of genera) is divided into ''species'' (e.g., ''[[Panthera tigris]]'', tigers). The species is the most basic category, the kind of animal, designated in a Latin binomial. The category of subspecies is sometimes used, often where the species doesn't satisfy the [[biological definition of species]]. That is, subspecies are usually organisms that have mostly identical characteristics and can interbreed, but live in different geographic locations. | ||
Revision as of 07:17, 9 May 2009
Taxonomy is the science of identifying, describing, classifying and naming organisms, the various groupings referred as taxa (Singl., taxon). There are an enormous number of kinds of organisms described, and their study requires organization. Historically, organisms were classified according to their structure. Those with certain characteristics were put into one group, and those with different characteristics placed into another. These groups were divided and subdivided, producing a hierarchy of taxa, each with common structural characteristics according to a specified principle of classification. However, recent efforts have been made to reorganize some parts of the system based on the phylogeny of an organism — that is, its relation to other organisms based on its evolutionary history.
Biologists group all organisms, living or dead, into one of three domains — Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. In Eukarya, domains subdivide into Kingdoms. For example, the animal kingdom (Animalia) is divided into subgroups called phyla (e.g., Chordata), each of which (a phylum) is divided into classes (e.g., Mammalia), each class into orders (e.g., Carnivora), and each order into families (e.g., Felidae), and each family into genera (e.g., Panthera). Each genus (singular of genera) is divided into species (e.g., Panthera tigris, tigers). The species is the most basic category, the kind of animal, designated in a Latin binomial. The category of subspecies is sometimes used, often where the species doesn't satisfy the biological definition of species. That is, subspecies are usually organisms that have mostly identical characteristics and can interbreed, but live in different geographic locations.
For humans: Domain, Eukaya; Kingdom, Animalia; Phylum, Chordata; Subphylum, Vertebrata;....
In groups where there are many organisms, sometimes there are additional layers of classification: subclasses, suborders, superfamilies, subfamilies, and tribes.